The Lycian Way

​

The peninsula extending to the Mediterranean between Antalya and Fethiye bays, known today as the Teke Peninsula, was referred to as Lycia in ancient geography. The southern boundary of the region is determined by the Mediterranean, while the eastern, western, and northern boundaries have changed over historical periods. According to ancient writers, the Beydağları, which extend southwest from just west of Antalya, along with the Akdağ range and its northwest extension, form the northern border of Lycia. In the famous Iliad epic, which narrates the Trojan Wars, Homer mentions that the Lycians, led by Glaukos and Sarpedon, fought alongside the Trojans against the Achaeans. Lycia came under Persian rule with the conquest of Persia's King Harpagos in 545 BC and participated with 50 ships in the fleet formed by King Xerxes in 480 BC for the conquest of Greece. The Persian invasion ended with the crossing of the Bosphorus by Alexander the Great of Macedonia into Anatolia and the defeat of the Persians in the Battle of Granicus in 333 BC.

After the death of Alexander the Great, Lycia came under the domination of the generals ruling in Egypt, the Ptolemies, from around 309 BC, a period during which the Lycian language was forgotten and replaced by Greek.

Between 197-167 BC, the region was ruled by the Syrian King Antiochus III. Lycia gained its freedom from Rome in 167 BC. During this period, it is known from inscriptions and coins that 23 cities, with Xanthos as the capital, formed the "League of Lycia" and money was minted on behalf of the league. Strabo mentions that the six major cities of the Lycian League were Xanthos, Patara, Pinara, Olympos, Myra, and Tlos.

The Lycian Way Monument, a guidepost monument that serves as a map of the Lycian geography with connecting routes and distances, is the world's oldest and only known road map.

During the Roman Empire period, the League did not lose its function and reached the highest level of prosperity and welfare during this period. The populations of the cities were around 5,000, and the population of the region was around 200,000. The borders expanded to include Kaunos (Dalyan) in the northeast. In the mid-5th century, the Lycian Province was counted as having 34 cities under the Consul Governor. The region between Demre and Kaş has been the most densely settled part of Lycia. There are nearly 30 settlement areas per square kilometer.

The encounter of the people of Lycia with Christianity dates back to the visit of St. Paul to Myra and Patara during his third missionary journey between 53-57 years. Methodius of Olympus was the first known bishop of Lycia, who was executed in Patara in 312. The Byzantine period from the 4th to the 7th centuries was a period when Christianity settled and many churches were built in the region.

One of the important changes that began with the Byzantine period, especially in the mountainous areas of Demre, is the emergence of monastery settlements. Monasteries were important power centers, affecting both the economy and public life to a significant extent. Monastic life in Lycia dates back to the 5th century. The construction of numerous large churches in the 5th and 6th centuries indicates that the population of the region was quite high during this period.

Most of the Lycian coast consists of rocky formations. This topography allowed for the formation of ports in some places. Strabo states that the Lycian coast is rugged and difficult to pass, but its ports are extremely well-equipped.

Trade by sea, which began in the Bronze Age, continued until the Roman and Byzantine periods. Purple dye, cedar wood, olive oil, wine, and sponges were among the important local products of the Lycian region. According to ancient sources, very high-quality and soft sponges were extracted around Antiphellos and its surroundings. In addition, the quality of the cedars of the Lycian Region, used in shipbuilding, is very high.

Lycian ports are listed from east to west as Idyros, Phaselis, Korykos, Olympos, Posidarisus, Melanippe, Gagai, Phoinikos, Andriake, Simena, Teimussa, Aperlai, Antiphellos, Kalamaki, Phoinike, Patara, Pydnai, Arymnessos/Perdikiai, Kalabantia, Karmylessos, Telmessos, Krya, Lissa, and Lydai. Among these ports, Andriake and Patara stand out due to their location, political, and economic power, hosting international trade.

The region is known for its regional traditions and especially its unique tomb architectures, making it one of the most interesting regions in Anatolia. Cities were generally founded on the coasts and in the Xanthos and Arykandos valleys, considered the heart of the region. Some of the inscriptions belonging to the Lycians, known for their own language and alphabet, have been translated into modern languages in recent years, most of which belong to tomb inscriptions.

The Lycian region consists of large, medium, and small-scale cities, port cities, military and semi-farmstead and tower settlements. Most of the visible remnants in the region belong to the Roman and Byzantine periods. The visible remains, concentrated in the classical settlements in the mountains, include olive oil and wine workshops and agricultural terraces. These rural settlements, which host the vast majority of the population, feed themselves and the large cities they are affiliated with.

Residential structures in Lycia are generally divided into four groups. The first group consists of houses arranged side by side on hill slopes, with separate entrances for each unit. The second group consists of independent single or two-room houses in rural settlements within the settlement area. Both groups of houses are mostly two-story, either grouped within the walls or close to each other. The third group consists of houses with 2-4 rooms, built in scattered fashion in agricultural areas, generally single-story, some with courtyards and their own cisterns and workshops. The fourth group consists of houses with rooms around a central courtyard, built in rural areas, mostly belonging to the wealthy.

Natural disasters and epidemics that occurred in the region deeply affected the cities and life in them. The most important of these are the earthquakes in 141, 240, 385, and 529, and the plague epidemics in 542 and 1346-1347. Due to the destruction in the coastal regions, the settlements in the interior regions gained importance.

In addition, Emperor Constantine II fought against the Arabs on the Phoniks shores with his own fleet in 655. Constantine II was saved from defeat thanks to the sacrifice of a young soldier. After this battle in Phoniks, Arab fleets began to roam freely on the Mediterranean coasts.

In 802, the Lycian and Carian regions were captured by the Abbasids. In the 10th century, Lycia and the entire Mediterranean were under Byzantine rule. After 1155, with the defeat of the Byzantine armies by the Seljuk II. Kilic Arslan, Lycia opened to the Turkmen. After 1204, all of Lycia fell into the hands of the Turks.

​

Saklıkent Ski Resort

​

Located 50 km from Antalya, at an altitude of 1900 m, with the slogan "skiing at your doorstep", consisting of 500 mountain houses within walking distance of chairlifts and ski lifts, along with hotels, cafeterias, and restaurants, the Saklıkent Ski Resort offers quality skiing opportunities from late December to early April.