The area now designated the Antalya province is the general center of classical Lycia. Milas was included by some writers in the district, but the more important cities seem to have been Patara (Gelemls) in the Xanthus Valley, Telmessus (Fethiye), and Myra (Demre). Perhaps it is Lycians who are mentioned in an Egyptian account of the Hittite battle at Kadesh. They may also be the Luqqa of fourteenth and thirteenth century Hittite documents.
Lycia was a geopolitical region in Anatolia in what are now the provinces of Antalya and Muğla on the southern coast of Turkey, and Burdur Province inland. Known to history since the records of ancient Egypt and the Hittite Empire in the Late Bronze Age, it was populated by speakers of the Luwian language group. Written records began to be inscribed in stone in the Lycian language (a later form of Luwian) after Lycia’s involuntary incorporation into the Achaemenid Empire in the Iron Age. At that time (546 BC) the Luwian speakers were decimated, and Lycia received an influx of Iranian speakers.
Lycia fought for the Persians in the Persian Wars, but on the defeat of the Achaemenid Empire by the Greeks, it became intermittently a free agent. After a brief membership in the Athenian Empire, it seceded and became independent (its treaty with Athens had omitted the usual non-secession clause), was under the Persians again, revolted again, was conquered by Mausolus of Caria, returned to the Persians, and went under Macedonian hegemony at the defeat of the Persians by Alexander the Great. Due to the influx of Greek speakers and the sparsity of the remaining Lycian speakers, Lycia was totally Hellenized under the Macedonians. The Lycian language disappeared from inscriptions and coinage.
On defeating Antiochus III in 188 the Romans gave Lycia to Rhodes for 20 years, taking it back in 168 BC. In these latter stages of the Roman republic Lycia came to enjoy freedom as part of the Roman protectorate. The Romans validated home rule officially under the Lycian League in 168 BC. This native government was an early federation with democratic principles; these later came to the attention of the framers of the United States Constitution, influencing their thoughts.
Despite home rule under democratic principles Lycia was not a sovereign state and had not been since its defeat by the Carians. In 43 AD the Roman emperor, Claudius, dissolved the league. Lycia was incorporated into the Roman Empire with a provincial status. It became an eparchy of the Eastern, or Byzantine Empire, continuing to speak Greek even after being joined by communities of Turkish language speakers in the early 2nd millennium. After the fall of the Byzantine Empire in the 15th century, Lycia was under the Ottoman Empire, and was inherited by the Turkish Republic on the fall of that empire. The Greeks were withdrawn when the border between Greece and Turkey was negotiated in 1923.
Lycia today is a substantial component of the Turquoise Coast. It is of interest not only for recreation and sport, but as a location of antiquities going back as early as the Bronze Age. The ruins of ancient Lycia are seemingly everywhere. For reasons unknown, perhaps isolation, recycling of the building stone was minimal compared to other regions.
Lycia,
excellent trip which is incorporated with a trip to the mud baths,these intricate tombs are a must to see.
This was one of the highlights of our trip. Amazing tombs to see carved out of the rock face, beautiful boat ride down the river to view. Highly recommend!
these are worth the climb. over the river by row boat and just past the cemertary there is a path that leads up to a gate which you can go throw and follow a goat path to the right to the main tombs be carefull its a bit of a climb there is a path that leads from the tombs…
What can i say, something so old and in remarkable good condition. You can walk down the riverside to see these but there is also a little row boat that goes to a restaurant called "The otherside restaurant" which is just below the tombs. (great fish dishes)
Saw the Lycean rock tombs on a Dalyan river cruise 4 yrs ago, very stunning sight from the river as you approach them. They are a fantastic achievement for their builders of the time and should be preserved for posterity.
We past the Tombs whilst on a boat trip. The whole family could not take their eyes of it (8 of us) Amazing trip so glad we went. You will not be disappointed.
Saw these on a Boat Trip. Expected more from what others were saying but beautiful, none the less.
The tombs sculpted from the rock face of the cliff across the river from Dalyan are from the days of the Lykians about 2400 years ago. They are literally a trademark of the holiday resort of Dalyan, Turkey. They are lit at night and make dining along the river especially enjoyable. To see this kind of Lykian tomb, visitors to…
We couldn't stop staring at these and wondering how on earth they were built. Stay at Otel Kano for a stunning view right opposite, or one of the restaurants for dinner also give you a great view.
If you want the best shot of the tombs take to the river and get george to be you tour guide. The setting in muntain of marvellous tombs is a amazing he tell all about them