back
Your Business
advertised here
Generally the ancient towns of Lycia were built on, or very close to, the coast. Tlos is a major exception to this rule because it was located inland, on a hill controlling the upper valley of the Xanthus River (today known as the Esen River). The valley was crossed by a road which linked the port of Letoon and the important town of Xanthos to a pass in the high mountains to the Anatolian plains. Due to its strategic position Tlos continued to be inhabited until the early 19th century today it is only a small village known as Yaka and parts of the archaeological area are farmed.
Tlos was founded on the very top of the hill and it was fortified with walls. In 141 AD an earthquake struck the region causing immense damage in many Lycian towns. We know from inscriptions that Opramoas, a very wealthy man, made significant donations to these towns to help them reconstruct.
The story of Tlos is summarized on the hill facing the stadium. At the top there is the bare rock which attracted the first settlers because it was easy to defend. To the right a series of rock-cut tombs and free-standing sarcophagi are the most impressive cultural feature of Lycia. Around the rock there are
walls built by the Byzantines which were later on modified by the Ottomans. The lower part shows a section of a very long ancient wall with a gate and in the foreground the Roman stadium which had seats for 3,500.
With the spread of Hellenism in Lycia rock-cut tombs started to appear in the form of small classical temples, however in Tlos the tombs retained the traditional Lycian design.
The whole northern side of the hill is covered with rock-cut tombs, one of which is decorated with a relief showing the mythical hero Bellerophon. He was asked by the Lycian king Iobates to destroy the Chimaera, a fire-breathing monster. Before setting about his task, Bellerophon caught and tamed the winged horse Pegasus. He then defeated Chimaera by flying over her on Pegasus, shooting at her with his bow and arrow, and then poking a chunk of lead between her jaws. Chimaera's hot breath melted the lead, which then dribbled down her throat, destroying her vital organs.
There is a large theatre on the site which unlike most other theatres in the region has 34 rows of seats mainly supported by a complicated construction of underground vaults, rather than the shape of the landscape. Part of the stage building still stands. The theatre was richly decorated with carvings of the fruits and crops farmed in the valley.
During the Roman period Tlos built two public baths the larger one near the stadium has a hall with seven windows overlooking the valley.
It is a whole day trip from Finike, through Demre, Kas and Kalkan. Between Kas and Kalkan you may stop at the beautiful small beach of Kaputas. Arriving in Kalkan follow the "Saklikent" signs, today it is a bit hard to find them because they are hidden by works on the road but we can hope works will end next year. After Saklikent you will see road signs to go to Tlos. (Saklikent is another famous destination where you can hike in a beautiful gorge by a river, but it is difficult to visit both Saklikent and Tlos on the same day).
Yaka Park restaurant After the visit of Tlos you can go on the road toward Yakaköy to have lunch at the restaurant "YakaPark", the last one on the right side of the road. A little torrent has been canalized to irrigate the whole restaurant. It is ten minutes only from Tlos, and far more pleasant than the two canteens in Tlos.”
Tlos
Mountain City
tlos
Myra
Home of St. Nicholas
Xanthos
Lycian Capital
Phellos
High City
Antiphellos
Ancient Kaş
Tlos
Mountain City