Tlos
Tlos Photo of Acropolis
Tlos is one of the most ancient and important
cities in Lycia. It is situated close to the modern village of Asar Kale (Asarkale,
Kale Asar). In Hittite records dating back to the 14th century BC, Tlos was
already mentioned as the "Dalawa in the Lukka lands". An additional testimony to
its old age was the discovery of a bronze axe dating from the second millenium
BC. Tlos was one of the six principal cities that constituted the Lycian
federation, the others being Xanthos, Patara,
Olympos, Myra, and Pinara.
The city was fortunate that it could benefit from donations by the wealthy benefactors Opramoas of
Rhodiapolis and Licinnius Langurd of Oenoanda. The city was stil inhabited
during the Byzantine period and is one of the few ancient towns in the area
which was able to maintain its status until the 19th century. Tlos was
re-discovered in 1838 bu the British explorer Charles Fellows.
Tlos has a dramatic setting high above
the Xanthos valley, dominated by its acropolis on a
rocky promontory. The walls that surround the acropolis as well as the fortress
on top of it date from the Ottoman period. The acropolis served as a
stronghold for several derebeys (valley lords) and brigands, of which the 19th
century Kanlı Ali Ağa (Bloody Chief Ali) was certainly
the most notorious. From the top of the acropolis there is a spectacular view
over the Xanthos valley. Beneath the top of the acropolis is the necropolis with
some Lycian sarcophagi and a vast number of rock-cut house-type Lycian tombs, among which
the famous, but difficult to reach, Tomb of Bellerophon.
At the southernmost part of the site
are the remains of the baths with two complete rooms one of which contains
an apse with seven windows, called Yedi Kapı (Seven
Gates) by the locals. A bit further down the road stands the well-preserved
Roman amphitheatre dating from the second century BC, with still 34 rows of
seats remaining. The theatre was built by Opramoas for the sum of 60,000 denars.
Further down the road from the theatre is the
village Yakaköy (Yaka village) with several trout
restaurants. Yaka Park, an old watermill, is definitely the most interesting. A
special attraction is
the bar, where your drinks are kept chilled in a sluice through which your potential
dinner is swimming. Turks are fascinated by running water in idyllic
settings and enjoy its refreshing and relaxing qualities. Sadat, our taxi driver
also invited us to the house of his wife's parents where we were invited to a
delightful dinner.
Click on the thumbnails to get greater pictures
