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| Tlos | ||
| province | Muğla | |
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| Residents | unknown | |
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| height | unknown | |
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| no tourist info on Wikidata: | ||
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Tlos is a Lycian ruin site in the Turkey.
background
Archaeological finds lead to the Bronze Age in the 2nd millennium BC. A place called Tlawa or Dalawa on the Xanthos River is mentioned in Hittite sources. We are now very sure that there is a correspondence with Tlos here. Coin finds from the 4th century BC BC with the city name Tlava support this. The city was able to make good use of its strategic location along the trade route and grew steadily. At the time of the Lycian League of Cities, the city had triple voting rights and when it was incorporated into the Roman Empire, the city was so important that it received the title of "most brilliant metropolis of the Lycian nation". Even an earthquake in 141 AD could not slow the influence and size of the city. Damage was repaired with the help of generous donations. In the Byzantine Empire, of course, the city also got a bishopric and sent bishops to the councils of 451 AD and 787 AD Kalchedon and Nikaia. However, like so many others in the region, the city passed its zenith during this period and gradually lost its importance. It was not until the 19th century that the city regained regional importance when the feudal lord Kanlı Ali Ağa built a fortress on the Acropolis in order to exercise a brief but memorable reign of terror from here. Archaeologically, the city was identified as the ancient ruins of Tlos as early as 1838. However, the first excavation work did not take place until 1970. In 2012 some crucial finds were made in Tlos. Today the ruins (mostly in combination with Saklikent and Xanthos) a popular destination for tourists Dalyan, Fethiye, Patara or Cheese. The titular Catholic diocese of Tlos is reduced to the Byzantine bishopric and has been exercised by the Mexican bishop Francisco Ramírez Navarro since 2000.
getting there
By plane
The nearest airport is that Dalaman Airport. There are no direct connections from there. But it is possible over Dalaman or Fethiye to get here across the street.
In the street
There is no direct dolmuş or bus connection.
The easiest way is a sightseeing tour in e.g. Fethiye or Dalyan to book and spend the night there. Otherwise you only have the option of switching to your own vehicle.
For self-drivers, however, Tlos is very easy to reach. Simply e.g. from Fethiye onto the coastal federal highway D400 and then onto the D350 towards Antalya switch. Shortly afterwards everything is already signposted. You then drive directly to Tlos via the villages of Girmeler and Güneşli.
By boat
Fethiye is the nearest port where you can anchor your boat. From here it is easy to join a tour group or take a rental car.
mobility
Dynamic cardsThe complex is quite manageable and can be explored on foot. If you are not particularly surefooted, you should consider saving yourself the acropolis and necropolis.
Tourist Attractions
The ruins of Tlos are picturesquely situated on a high plateau. From here you have a wonderful view of the entire area. In the center is the Acropolis, with the city at your feet.
The acropolis
- 1 Castle - On the Acropolis is the castle, of which only the walls can be seen. This is based on Lycian foundations. Later the Byzantines built a castle on the same foundation walls. The last idea came from Kanlı Ağı Ali, known as the Bloody Ali. He again used the Lycian foundations. Only the walls of this castle have remained. A climb is worthwhile because of the view of the incredible landscape.
- 2 Bellerophon's grave - The grave of Bellerophons can be easily recognized from the access road and is located on a steep slope to the side of the Acropolis. To get to the grave, keep to the right in front of the Acropolis, descend into a depression and leave all other graves behind. The not completely finished front of the rock tomb represents a temple consisting of 4 columns. In this temple front the representation of the Bellerophon on the Pegasus can be found again. The Greek hero from ancient legends tamed the flying horse and many a heroic deed he wanted to climb to Olympus. But the gods were not so enthusiastic about this and sent nothing more than a brake that briefly stung the Pegasus. Then the Pegasus threw off the Bellerophon and fell to the earth. Badly injured, the Bellerophon spent his last years in Lycia and died. Of course, many believe that they have found the grave of Bellerophons here, but that is not certain. What is certain is that in the grave you will find another relief depicting a lion or leopard. However, if you make your way to the grave, you shouldn't forget sturdy shoes, as the paths are sometimes bumpy or slippery after rainfall. A walking stick as a climbing aid can help.
- 3 Rock necropolis - If you stand in front of the Acropolis from the parking lot, you immediately notice a series of rock tombs. The most obvious ones right under the castle are quite boring, as they have rectangular empty chambers without any inscriptions or reliefs. The more you keep to the right, the more the demands on the footwear and the climbing skills of the explorer increase, as you descend into a depression. There are more rock graves with inscriptions and weathered reliefs of warriors from the 5th century BC. However, those who make their way to the graves should not forget sturdy footwear, as the paths are partly bumpy or slippery after rainfall . A walking stick as a climbing aid can help. If that's too dangerous or exhausting for you, you still get the long shots from a distance.
- 4 Lycian sarcophagi - There are some Lycian sarcophagi in front of the Acropolis. Typical of Lycian sarcophagi is always the lid, which is pointed and is reminiscent of an upturned boat keel.
The town
- 5 Stadion - At the foot of the Acropolis is the stadium, which once had a capacity of 2,500. Today only the spectator stands can be made out. The central entrance to the stadium was probably on the north side.
- 6 Market hall - There is a building 150 meters long and 30 meters wide parallel to the stadium. Most likely, the building was two-story and had the function of a market hall.
- 7 Palastra - A large sand-covered area adjoins the market hall with the Palastra and was used for competitions such as wrestling but also for fistfighting.
- 8 Small thermal bath - This thermal bath is directly connected to the Palastra.
- 9 Big thermal bath - The large thermal baths were certainly one of the highlights of a visit to Tlos in antiquity but nowadays. Three large rooms determine the main features of the building. The easternmost room has a special feature. This has an apse with 7 windows at the south end (also known as Yedi Kapı), which offer a wonderful view of the Xanthos valley.
- 10 church - The remains of the church date from late antiquity.
- 11 theatre - With a diameter of 56 meters and a capacity of up to 16,000 spectators, the Tlos theater is one of the largest in Lycia. It was built differently than e.g. in Patara freestanding. The size and construction are very similar to the theater in Side. Here, too, a large vaulted structure with a circumferential vaulted walkway was placed in the open plane. It is not known whether the theater was able to present ship competitions in a water basin, as in Side. The stage house (orchestra) is completely destroyed, but the cavea is still quite well preserved. Inscriptions on the theater indicate that the theater was built around the turn of the century. The theater was opened during the earthquake in 141 AD. badly damaged, but rebuilt thanks to generous donations from Mr. Euerget Opramoas of Rhodiapolis.
- 12 Agora - The agora was one of the central trading places in Tlos and had a size of 80 meters by 80 meters. Euerget Opramoas from Rhodiapolis made a generous donation here too. About 50,000 denarii, which would correspond to a purchasing power of over € 100,000.00, let the rich Mr. Opramoas flow into the agora alone. Unfortunately, there is not much left to see today.
In the neighborhood
In the area there is one attraction above all and that is that 13 Saklikent Gorge. A river rises from a gorge that is up to 300 meters high. The gorge can be hiked on foot. The 18-kilometer-long gorge, which is subject to a fee, is a special highlight and becomes increasingly demanding the deeper you get into the gorge. If you want to exceed the first 300 meters, you should definitely wear clothes that dry easily. Technical equipment (such as a camera) should also be stowed away in such a way that it cannot get wet. Before entering the gorge, you are given special rubber shoes with which you can climb over smooth stones more easily. There are only shoe sizes up to 45 available as rental shoes. Anyone who wears plus sizes squeezes into 45 or brings their own shoes. The first 300 meters are to be covered on dry feet hanging on the rock. Then you reach a confluence of the gorge with some headwaters, on the banks of which there is a popular picnic area in summer. You have to wade through this and from here you should definitely be appropriately dressed. The current can be very strong at this point, depending on the season. Here, however, there are willing helpers who know this ford exactly and who accompany everyone through the river. For a tip, some accompany the tourist far into the gorge. If the gorge is initially 10 to 20 meters wide, it narrows increasingly to up to 2 meters. Deep pools also form here, through which you sometimes have to swim. Legend has it that the gorge was discovered by accident because shepherds were missing a few sheep. In the meantime, around 200,000 visitors come here every year and the region has been a national park since 1996. Numerous restaurants and offers such as rafting, mud baths, etc. complete the offer.
activities
- Discover
- hike
- Rafting
- Relax
shop
- A manageable number of souvenirs can be bought at the kiosk at the parking lot of the ruins. It looks different in Saklikent. There are numerous souvenirs to buy here. However, it should be noted that this is like in cities Fethiye or Dalyan are usually cheaper to buy.
- Water and small snacks are available in both Tlos and Saklikent.
kitchen
There are many good restaurants in Saklikent
nightlife
accommodation
Most guests stay in Dalyan, Fethiye or Cheese. But if a day trip is too stressful for you or if you need more time to visit the ruins, there are alternatives nearby:
- 1 Mountain Lodge, Deveciler Mah., Yaka Yolu No: 2, Yaka Köyü, 48850 Seydikemer / Fethiye. Tel.: 90 252 638 2515, Email: [email protected].
health
Practical advice
trips
literature
- Greek mythology by Reiner Abenstein published by UTB-Verlag, Stuttgart 2011. ISBN 978-3825236236
