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,
Rock Tombs so well preserved in a wonderful setting, View from the boats and enjoy the experience. Dalyan has it all, good fish restaurants, a wonderful river for walking and such friendly people.
Loved the time and effort gone into these creations, would really have enjoyed going up to them, but nowadays you can only see them from the boats, as apparently they are considered dangerous to be in , boo,,,,
These are brilliant, check out the history of these, worth seeing lit up at night from one of the restuarants along the river.
If you're visiting by boat trip you'll probably only get to see the tombs from a distance, but if you're in Dalyan get the old girls to row you across the river for 4 lira and take a walk along the path to the ruins of Kaunos. The rock tombs are in an area that's actually fenced off, but just…
The iconic landmark in Dalyan providing a brilliant backdrop to the town, floodlit at night. Best views on the other side of the river on the way to Kaunos, also great views from the boat going down to the beach. Sunray bar has great views of the tombs.
You can't miss these if you go on a boat trip down the Dalyan river or just sit at a waterfront restaurant in Dalyan. They are tombs of the Kings of Kaunos carved into the cliffs overlooking the river (by people who abseiled down the cliffs).
The tombs are floodlit at night so make sure you see them by day…
Was a great opportunity to take pictures and we even got a little talk about how they were built etc
This was part of a boat trip to Turtle Beach. Was amazing to see them so well preserved and set high into the rocks. The guide gave us loads of information and the photos were stunning to look back over too.
These rock tombs are a reminder that Dalyan and surrounds has a long history and many civilisations have been and gone. The Sirhar restaurant has tables across the river from the tombs so you can have a great meal and see them when lit at night.
The trip was in 3 parts – mud spa, tombs and Turtle Beach. Watch out for reps selling the trip as an opportunity to see turtles – you dont. They only lay their eggs on the beach in Aug/Sept and the beach is closed off during this time. Other than that they come onshore at dawn and you have to…