Sura is a small Dynastic-period settlement located behind a hill northeast of the port of Andriake. It is known for the oracle centre established there from the Hellenistic period onward. The slopes of the rocky hill on which the settlement stands descend into a marshy area that was formerly a small bay in antiquity. This bay was gradually filled with alluvium carried by the Karaemir Stream flowing through the valley. Today, Çayağzı Beach covers both the mouth of the former Sura Bay and the harbour of Andriake, which was similarly silted up by the Myros (Demre) River.
The Lycian name of the settlement is Surezi. The name Sura (Soura) has been in use from the Hellenistic period to the present day. The Dynastic-period settlement occupies a fortified hilltop. A large dynastic residence constructed on the acropolis remained in use in later periods as well. On the northern slope of the hill, a Dynastic-period watchtower was located, which continued in use into the Byzantine period. A dozen Roman-period sarcophagi are distributed around the acropolis hill.
The most remarkable monument at Sura is a Dynastic-period tomb located at the southern end of the acropolis hill. Its lower section takes the form of a classical Lycian wooden-architecture imitation house. Above this rises a sarcophagus of such height that it closely resembles a pillar tomb; it is considered the largest sarcophagus in Lycia. However, the identity of the tomb owner is unknown, as no inscription survives. Just behind this monument is a Classical Lycian rock-cut tomb bearing a Lycian inscription (TL 84). Another Lycian inscription (N 304) from Sura is located on a monolithic cuboid “base” carved from bedrock at the southern end of the acropolis, overlooking Sura Bay. Borchhardt suggests that it may have served as a statue base.
By the Roman period, prophetic activity at the Temple of Apollo, established on the shore of Sura Bay, had transformed the settlement into a religious centre under the administration of Myra. This interpretation is supported by inscriptions found around the acropolis. The oracle centre and the cult of Apollo Surius are also mentioned by several ancient authors, including Pliny the Elder, Plutarch, Polycharmus, and Artemidorus. Although their accounts differ in detail, they generally agree that the temple priests performed divination by observing fish in water.
The temple was constructed in the Doric order with a south-facing façade. Today, only the northern wall and parts of the side walls survive up to roof height, along with remains of a stepped processional road leading from the acropolis to the temple.
References:
Borchhardt, J. 1975. Myra – Eine lykische Metropole in antiker und byzantinischer Zeit, 1st Forsch 30, Berlin.
Çevik, N. 2021. Lykia Kitabı: Arkeolojisi, Tarihi ve Kültürüyle Batı Antalya, Türk Tarih Kurumu, Ankara.
İbci, R. O. 2019. Sura Apollon Tapınağı ve İlişkili Kült Kalıntıları, Unpublished Master’s Thesis, Akdeniz Üniversitesi, Antalya.
Wurster, W. W. 1993. “Dynast ohne Palast – Überlegungen zum Wohnbereich lykischer Feudalherren,” in Akten Lykien II Bd. 2, 27-30.
Images:
W. W. Wurster, 1993
Tayfun Bilgin, 2022
Reha Özer, 2022
Bora Bilgin, 2022, 2023, 2024