Olympos (Lycia)

Olympos is an ancient city on the eastern coast of Lycia (Asia Minor, Turkey) - Today Deliktas (perforated stone) called. The name is derived from Mount Olympos, now Tahtalı Dagi, at the foot of which lay the city.

It is far away from Antalya 72 km and lies, as well as Phaselis, Olympos National Park Beydağları. From the once important city of the Lycian Federation is historically but little tangible and also the ruins of more fascinated by its picturesque location on a creek near the beach.

History

Olympos was founded as a mining town on the day Musa Dagi called mountain south of its port Korykos who got transferred the name from about 130 by Emperor Hadrian. The reason for this was the stagnation of the mountain town, now called Hadrianopolis, while the port flourished in the peace of the Roman Empire.

Buildings and coinage create a foundation close to the Hellenistic period. As an important member of the Lycian League, it is mentioned at the beginning of the 1st century BC, but fell just as the nearby Phaselis, the pirates prey to the einnisteten under the leadership of a certain Zeniketes here. 77 BC The Pirates of Publius Servilius Vatia ( Isauricus ) were defeated and as Zeniketes in his fortress on the Olympos saw no way out, he put his house on fire and burned himself and his family.

Your former prosperity reached the city and to the Roman Empire under Hadrian no more, though she could take an upswing again. Was famous Olympos, however, because of his cult of Hephaestus, which can be seen in direct connection with the nearby " eternal fires " of Chimaira. In the 3rd century AD Olympos is again mentioned as a bishop's seat - in the 15th century, however, the last inhabitants left the city permanently.

Ruins

Olympos is a long time forgotten, either side of a small brook, where the remains of the bridge can be seen that connected the two parts of the city. The remaining building remains are fallen into disrepair and largely overgrown, like the small Roman theater. A former lake is marshy today - here are the remains of a temple are from the 2nd century AD It is worth noting the necropolis with numerous tombs and inscriptions, but have no Lycian features.

In addition to the remains of a Byzantine basilica still bear witness to a hilltop position, settlement remains from the impoverishment of the settlement in the Middle Ages. A ruined castle above the beach is evidence of one of the many commercial and military bases the Republic of Genoa and is likely to date from the 14th century. For this, the excavation necessary in the course from 2000 to 2006 exposed sarcophagi, however, have considerable destruction.

Apart from the ruins of the nearby, about three kilometer long pebble beach is another attraction of Olympos with visitors.

Modern Times

Less than 100 kilometers southwest of Antalya is the approximately three-kilometer long bay of Cirali / Olympos. It is popular with backpackers. Access to the beach is possible and free of charge through the ruins. The beach is a sea turtle nesting and conservation area.

The place Olympos can be reached from the road Kemer Kumluca (E90 ) by dolmus. In the holiday season it is possible at night to ride the bus to Chimaira at Cirali, where natural gas reservoir feeds a millennia held Erdbrand.

Bridge piers

The Sarcophagus of Captain Eudemos in the grave chamber under the acropolis

Roman Bath

Roman temple from the 2nd century AD

The polygonal walls

Theater

Lycian Hemidrachme from Olympos

Roman Bath

Detail of a temple inscription