Olimpos Antique City

The Olimpos Antique City   Ancient Olimpos
While the ruins of ancient Olimpos lie unrestored and overgrown, The Olimpos Antique City's the splendid natural setting that makes this historical site such a worthwhile visit. The Lycian, Roman, and Byzantine ruins lie scattered about on both sides of a scenic river valley that is lush with red pine, eucalyptus, fig trees, oleanders, and vines. Small streams, rivulets, and tumbling brooks run riotously through the ruins of tombs, houses, baths, and temples. In spring, the scene is particularly pleasant with abundant wildflowers, and a multitude of small ponds that looked inviting for a quick dip.

The Olimpos Antique City's worth requesting the assistance of the uniformed guide here to escort you through the ruins. We would have missed two-thirds of them without his assistance, as the most interesting ones are hidden among the dense foliage.

The Olimpos Antique City was a prosperous and important Lycian city, with a good harbor, now the silted-over river valley delta. Possibly founded about the 2nd century BC, it is one of about 20 sites throughout the world named after Mount Olympos, the mythical home of the Greek gods. Some sources say that the equivalent mountain in this region is the impressive Tahtali Dag. about 10km.

Olimpos City came under Roman rule before becoming the home of Cilician pirates. The Olimpos Antique City was repeatedly sacked by pirates and declined gradually until its abandonment in the 15th century. The ruins include a Roman theater, basilicas, baths, aqueducts, and canals to channel the voluminous water flow, Byzantine buildings with mosaics, a necropolis with tombs, and the most remarkable structure of all, a large standing gate, which bears an inscription to Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

Yorum Yaz

Okunma : 144

Yazdır

Gönder