Lycian tombs in Myra, Türkiye: how to get here. Ancient Lycia and unique Lycian tombs Tombs of the Lycian kings

Lycian tombs and dead cities- how mysterious these phrases sound, they smell of something ancient and mysterious. How tempting it would be to come here! 🙂

The trip to Myra in Turkey was one of the most long-awaited: after all, there are many historical monuments: Church of St. Nicholas, ancient amphitheater and Lycian tombs. The ancient city, which once disappeared from the face of the earth, attracted us no less than Atlantis.

The mysterious Lycian civilization left behind architectural monuments that are more than 2000 years old, but time mercilessly turns them into ruins. Therefore, the way the tombs of the Lycian kings were preserved in Turkey can be considered a real miracle.

I suggest you look at this historical place in my video:

On modern map the city of Myra in Lycia is now called Demre. We easily reached it from (via Antalya and Kemer) by rented car. Location on the map, coordinates and detailed description How to get to the Lycian necropolis is at the end of this article.

To touch the history of Lycia, you need to buy admission ticket. Price 15 liras (that’s a little more than 300 rubles or $5). And so, leaving a tribute to modernity and passing the turnstile, we instantly found ourselves in the distant past: in the country of Lycia.

History of the Lycian State and the City of Myra

Ancient Lycia was located in Asia Minor on the Teke Peninsula. Currently, this territory contains the Turkish provinces of Antalya and Mugla.

The Lycians settled in the fertile valley of the Xanthus River, which originates in the Taurus Mountains and flows into the Mediterranean Sea. On the banks of this river, seven kilometers from the sea coast, it was founded main city states - Xanthos.

Lycian kingdom, flourishing in the 14th century. BC e., developed thanks to agriculture, trade and pirate raids on Egypt and Cyprus. The population spoke the Hittite-Luwian language and had its own written language, formed under the influence of the ancient Greeks. This was the reason for the imaginary similarity of the Greek and Lycian alphabets. In fact, outwardly similar letters have completely different meanings.

The good climate, fertile soils, and cozy bays of Lycia gave no rest to the conquerors. The peace of the Mediterranean state was violated by the Persians and Alexander the Great, the Roman Empire and Byzantium. Despite constant conquests, the Lycian state retained its identity and culture until Roman rule, which became a period of Hellenization. In the 11th century n. e. Lycia finally came under the rule of the Ottoman Empire and Muslims.

Available Lycian cities were united in a confederation and got along well with each other. For a long time, the capital of Lycia was the city of Myra, on the site of which the town of Demre is now located. In the 13th century n. e. the city was destroyed by an earthquake that caused mudflows.

Pilgrimage site and gladiator arena

Why does this small Turkish city attract so many tourists now?

One of the main attractions of Mira is the Church of St. Nicholas the Pleasant. It was built in the 8th century. n. e. and is now a place of real pilgrimage.

The church was also swept away by mudflows during an earthquake in the 13th century at the same time as the entire city. Its restoration began in the middle of the last century. By the time of restoration, the church was 7 meters below ground level. We had unforgettable impressions of this holy place. Tall columns and gracefully curved vaults reminded of the age of the temple. The feeling was complemented by inscriptions in ancient Greek and elements of Byzantine mosaic.

What was remembered most of all was the Lycian sarcophagus, in which the relics of the great St. Nicholas the Wonderworker rested for several centuries. Despite the high glass with which it is fenced, everyone can stick their hand in, touch the shrine or touch the icon.

But let's return to other ancient monuments. The ancient Lycian tombs were visible from afar, but first we decided to explore the huge Greco-Roman amphitheater located nearby.

Its size was second only to the Roman Colosseum. The amphitheater was designed for 10,000 spectators. Even destroyed, it leaves a grandiose impression. And this despite the fact that it is difficult to surprise contemporaries with large-scale structures.

More about this amazing place I wrote in .

Lycian necropolis

It remains to talk about the last attraction of the city of Myra: the Lycian tombs. Their history is as unique as the appearance of the buildings themselves.

The ancient Lycians greatly revered the dead. They believed that after death, people's souls turn into winged creatures and fly into the sky. This explains the unusual location of the Lycian burials. Residents of the state buried their dead not in the ground, but in rocks, closer to the gods. Moreover, the richer the deceased was, the more high place his burial place occupied the mountain.

The rocks in which the tombs are carved stretch along the entire coast. More than a thousand such structures have been discovered, but the Lycian tombs in the ancient city of Myra are the largest array. It is not for nothing that this place received the name City of the Dead.

The architecture of the tombs shows the influence of Greece and Ancient Rome. Some burials have columns, which is so reminiscent of Roman and Greek temples. Other structures with porticoes externally resembled the wooden dwellings of the Lycians themselves, only in stone. Some had two rooms, located one above the other.

The imprint of mudflows and long-standing tragedy left its mark on the walls of the tombs. But even from below, inscriptions in the ancient language, skillful bas-reliefs and steps leading to the tombs were visible. With what pleasure we would go up, but, unfortunately, access to the rock burials is prohibited.

At the foot of the rocks one could also see another type of burial - sarcophagi. Most likely, these are the tombs of poorer townspeople.

Stone sarcophagi, as a rule, consisted of a monolithic chamber, a lid and a base. Some are decorated with reliefs, others are quite simple. Early burials are more massive, but with the coming to power of Rome their size gradually decreased.

Why are the Lycian necropolises so well preserved? Only due to the fact that they are carved into the rocks. Temples and other architectural monuments were valuable as building materials and were dismantled by descendants, but rock structures were of no interest to them.

Of course, the interior of the burials was looted long ago, but they themselves remained untouched. We were amazed by the enormity of the City of the Dead. It was worth going to Turkey just for this spectacle alone!

Ancient Lycia on the map of modern Turkey

Where is it located and how to get to the ancient city of Myra, Lycian region? This question is especially relevant for those who want to come here on their own, as we did.

Coordinates places where the Lycian tombs are located: 36.25883, 29.98432. And here they are on the map:

You can read more about our route. In short, we traveled by rented car from Belek. At the entrance to Demre (from Kemer) there are signs for Noel Baba (this is the Church of St. Nicholas) and Myra (this is the Lycian Tombs and Amphitheater).

From the main road, turn in one direction.

We thought that according to the “Worlds” sign all the sights were located together. Well, we couldn’t imagine that the name “Baba” could somehow relate to Nikolai Ugodnik. 🙂

Back to the Future

Well, near the entrance/exit, numerous sellers were selling a wide variety of souvenirs dedicated to antiquity: from antique masks to toy gladiator helmets.

You could even buy an amphitheater! True, not the real size. 😀

After visiting all the sights of Lycia there were a lot of impressions. We must not forget that all these ancient monuments are under open air, which means you need to add a temperature much higher than +30C. We were also very lucky that there were clouds in the sky.

That's why we were extremely excited about yet another unusual and highly desirable cooling attraction. We were about to go to unique place, which is not indicated in any way on the map of Turkish attractions, and, as we were told in the souvenir shop, tourists do not go there.

Lycian tombs- these are ancient tombs preserved in the rocks in the city of Demre in Turkey, on the territory of the ancient city of Mira.

Description of the Lycian tombs

The Lycian rock tombs in the city of Demre in Turkey are considered one of the most interesting of all the other burial sites in what is now Turkey.

They date back to the 6th century BC. and represent an almost exact reproduction of ancient dwellings of that era. The Lycian tombs at Demre themselves consist of one or more chamber-rooms in which the dead are buried on a stone podium, as expected - with jewelry, clothing and food. The rock tombs in Myra have only one entrance, which was locked with a large stone. Currently, almost all of them are looted and gaping with open holes. The Lycians believed that the higher the tomb was made according to the height of its location in the mountains, the closer the deceased became to the Gods.

The windows and doors at the front of the tombs are decorated with images from the lives of the dead.

The most famous is the tomb of Amyntas, which is a platform with a portico carved into the rock and two Ionic columns. On the wall of the tomb there is an inscription in Greek “Amintas, son of Hermagios”.

Türkiye amazes with its historical and cultural monuments. Here are the ruins of Troy, glorified by Homer, the palace at Ephesus, rock city Cappadocia. The Lycian Tombs are located in Turkey. They are known throughout the world for their legends, beauty, and unusualness.

Lycian tombs, description and where they are located on the map of Turkey

Where Muğla and Antalya are located today in the provinces, two thousand years ago the state of Lycia lived and flourished. It is known for its original writing, language, architecture, and cultural heritage.

The fertile region, located in the valley of the Xanthus River, attracted neighboring states with its wealth, nature, and beauty. It was conquered by the Persians, Alexander the Great annexed it to his empire, and was captured by the troops of the Roman Empire and Byzantine rulers.

In the 11th century n. e. Lycia fell under the rule of the Ottoman Empire and is still under Turkish rule.

Interesting! One of the curious aspects of the life of the Lycians was the belief that the souls of dead people turned into creatures that could fly.

To make the path to heaven easier, the bodies to which they belonged before death were buried high in the rocks, closer to the gods. Some were placed vertically, in the belief that this would enable them to get to heaven faster.

There are cliffs with tombs all along the coast. There are more than a thousand necropolises in total. The largest is in ancient city The world is called the City of the Dead. The complex of tombs dates back to the 6th century. BC.

Near the peaks there were tombs of noble, wealthy people.

Rock tombs

The buildings that make up the ensemble differ in architecture. Some tombs were built as separate structures, in the form of temples. They are called Tapinak. They were created on a square foundation with columns at the corners. A burial room was built above them. The facade usually had carvings that imitated the roof. The portico above the entrance and the stone covering it were decorated with drawings from the lives of the living and the dead. By the clothes of the person drawn, one could find out about his profession.

• Some graves were carved in stone and are called Kaya.
• The tombs differed in size. One would think that the more spacious ones belonged to the rich. Indeed, this is true, but the size of the building was also associated with historical stages. Before the arrival of the Roman Empire, the tombs were large. After the inclusion of Lycia, the Empire became smaller.
• Some tombs have ancient Greek and Roman columns. On the walls there are remains of bas-reliefs and inscriptions in the Lycian language. The meaning of many of them is still unknown today. An example of a well-preserved necropolis with a portico carved into the rock and two columns made in the Ionic style is the tomb of Amyntas. On the wall is written in Greek: “Amintas, son of Hermagios.”
• Some of the tombs resemble the dwellings in which the ancient Lycians lived. They are called “Houses”. The only difference is that the living built themselves wooden houses, dead - stone. Some rock rooms were two stories high.
• Steps are carved into the stone, along which previously one could easily reach any tomb. But mudflows, earthquakes, and time took their toll, and the steps remained in ruins.
• At the foot of it huddled the sarcophagi of the poor - “Dakhit”. They are chambers with a base and a lid. Some were decorated with bas-reliefs, others did not have insignia, symbols, or decorations.

According to scientists, the fact that the Lycian tombs were made of stone played an important role in ensuring their safety. Inside they were looted, but the ensemble and its structure remained intact enough for the buildings to reach today.

Interesting! In order to protect burial sites from looting, in close proximity a note was placed from the grave with a promise of curses addressed to anyone who dared to disturb the peace of the dead. The burials were carefully guarded by all relatives. There was a fine for desecration.

Landmark of Greece

Historical facts about the Lycian tombs

There are more than a thousand tombs in total. Most of them are located in the area of ​​​​the city of Mira, in Antalya, near the modern city of Demre (the name until 2005 was Kale) north of the Church of St. Nicholas. Myra was the capital of the Lycian kingdom. The exact date of its foundation is unknown.

It is believed that the city was called "Maura". From Etruscan the name translates as “city of the Mother Goddess”. The name sounded like “Mura”, later they began to call him Mira.

The second option is associated with the word “myrrh,” which means resin for making church incense.

Didn't stand aside Greek mythology. The goddess Lethe, the ex-wife of Zeus, was hiding from the persecution of the jealous Hera. In secret from the latter, she gave birth to Apollo and Artemis. After giving birth she needed a drink clean water, wash, the wolves helped her find the Xanthos River. And in gratitude, the goddess named this place Lycia from the word “lykos” - “wolf”.

In the 18th century Due to strong earthquakes, the city was hidden by mudflows and disappeared from the surface. What remains is the ancient amphitheater, the Lycian necropolis.

Excursion walks

The tombs were carved into soft rocks. This explains their occurrence.

An excursion to the tombs is included in the Demre – Mira – Kekova tour. Tourists can visit the Lycian burial grounds, the temple of St. Nicholas (Nicholas the Pleasant), the amphitheater that has survived to this day, and the islet of Kekova. There used to be a city of the same name on the island, but after a powerful earthquake it sank.

Opposite Kekova there is the village of Simen, where there is a fortress and the smallest Roman theater. It is believed that it could accommodate no more than 400 people.

Excursions are sold in hotels, tourist centers, and on specialized websites.

For reference! The price of an organized bus trip to the Lycian Tombs depends on the departure point. For example, from the famous tourist center In Kemer it will be 35 US dollars* for an adult and 20* for a child from seven to twelve years old.

Opening hours. Cost of visit

The Lycian tombs are open year-round. In summer, opening hours are from 9 am to 7 pm. From November to March the museum is open from 8am to 5pm.

The ticket price for the tombs is 15 liras*. At the current exchange rate, this is a little more than 160 rubles*. The entrance to the tombs themselves is closed.

Lycian sarcophagi

How to get to the tombs on your own - route on the map

The Lycian Tombs can be reached by car along the D400 highway. The distance on the map is 142 km from Antalya and 45 km from Kas. Nearby are the cities of Olympos, Finike, Kalkan. The coordinates of this place are 36.25883,29.99432. If you are coming from Kemer, then at the entrance to the city of Demre, you need to turn where there is a sign for Myra. On the same sign is written the name of another attraction - Noel Baba. This is the Church of St. Nicholas (Nicholas the Pleasant).

At the next roundabout, the signs are already separated and you need to go towards Myra. the distance between Mira and the tomb is one and a half kilometers.

The cost of traveling by car to the tombs is calculated as daily rent plus gasoline. On average, the price of a car will vary depending on the class, year of production, capacity, and type of gearbox. The average ranges from 20 to 50 euros*.

Important! A self-guided tour to the tombs can also be organized by bus. You can get to Demre from Fethiye. The ticket costs 30 Turkish lira*. Fethiye can be reached from anywhere large city coast, including from Antalya. Ticket price – 30-33 liras*.

Regardless of how a person goes to the Lycian tombs, by bus, taxi or on foot, in addition to tickets, he needs to pay for visiting the museum.

Amazing combination architectural buildings, representing tombs, fills with a sense of the inviolability of existence and history. Necropolises created in rocks, carved from stone, give a feeling of the brevity of the moment given to man.

* Prices are current as of September 2018.

Address: Myra Lycian Rock Tombs, Demre/Antalya, Türkiye

Coordinates: 36.258888, 29.984625

How to get there

By public transport

From the bus stations of the cities: , Fenik, - buses depart through, from which the tombs and ruins of the city of Mira can be reached on foot in 20 minutes.

From from you first need to get to, where you change to a bus to Demre.

By rented car

See GPS coordinates above. There is parking nearby.

As part of a tour group

Excursions from various resort towns in Turkey are organized to the ruins of the city of Mira and the tombs. Ask your guide at the hotel.

Description

The Lycian tombs in Myra are unique rock burials on the territory of the ancient Lycian ruins, within the modern Turkish city of Demre.

They are tombs traditional for the Lycian culture, carved directly into the rocks. It is believed that in this way, by burying people high in the rocks, the souls of the dead could more easily ascend to the gods. The higher the grave was, the more noble the person buried in it was.

The burials date back to the period when the city of Myra was the capital of the Lycian Union (before that the capital of Lycia was the city