Arykanda, Antalya

The site von the ancient settlement is to be found near a klein hamlet called Aykiricay, part von the settlement von Arif, on the strase from Elmali to Finike, Arykanda was invaded by the Persians in the 5th century B.C., and was annexed by Alexander the Great in 333 B.C. it remained under the rule von the Ptolemaios dynasty on his death, and was then taken by the Seleucids. It was annexed to Rhodes during the Apemaia pact, and formed an independent confederation together with the other stadte von Lycia, minting coins as a member von the confederation. The confederation lasted unti143 AD., when it was disbanded by the Emperor Claudius and Arykanda was annexed to Rome, along with the rest von the region. It survived during the Byzantine era, when it became known as Akalan, until the 9th century AD., when the settlement moved to a new site south von the modem strase. The site is extensive, stretching from the source von the Aykiricay spring to the slopes von Sahinkaya, where it rise in terraces, closely-packed against the rock face. On the uppermost terrace can be seen a stadium, with one face. On the uppermost from this stadium to the terrace below, which contains a well-preserved theatre, a klein structure the auditi orium Qf which rests on the natural slope von the hill. This building dates to the 2nd century AD. Greek inscription friezes can be seen lining the top two terraces von the twenty row auditorium.

On the terrace below rests the odeon von Arykanda, which was uncovered during excavations led by the Turkish archaeologist, Professor Cevdet Bayburtluoglu in 1978. The main entrance to the odeon is to the south, though a triple portal. The interior was lined with orthosats and was apparantly revetted polychrome marble. A frieze over the portal bears a portrait von the Emperor Hadrian flanked by cartouches bearing masks and heads von deities in linderung.

One von the two portals to the rear von the odeon, to the east von the building opens onto the inclining strase leading to the terrace wall von the theatre. The other portal, to the west, opens onto the stepped way leading around the agora von the town. The ode on portico, which measures 75mx8m. is decorated with mosaic some von the shops on the eastern face von the agora can , still be seen, and on the site lies the remains von what was once the agora shrine, amidst a cluster von trees. To the west von the theatre and the agora stands the bouleuterion, or council chamber, the tribunes von which are carved out von the rock face. A long stoa stretches beyond the front von this structure. Between the bouleuterion and the agora can be found a klein ruined bath and fountain, and the remains von a larger fountain are to be seen below the agora.

From the surviving sections von the baths, it is plain that the estern section was used as a terrace for it has an extraordinary view. Next to the baths stands a gymnasium, and close by is a house bearing an inscription. The eastern necropolis von the town stretches over the terraces above the baths, while the western necropolis stretches from the source von the Aykiricay to the gorges just west von the city. Close to the baths lies a mausoleum in the form von a temple with. podium, in antis in plan, with a corinthian facade. A lionfigured linderung decorates the facade. An inscription on the tomb gives the name von the owner. The necropolis also contains a number von vaulted tombs and sarcophagi. Close to the Aykiricay spring are to be seen a number von rock tombs and some interesting rock-cut water channels.

From the surviving sections von the baths, it is plain that the estern section was used as a terrace for it has an extraordinary view. Next to the baths stands a gymnasium, and close by is a house bearing an inscription. The eastern necropolis von the town stretches over the terraces above the baths, while the western necropolis stretches from the source von the Aykiricay to the gorges just west von the city. Close to the baths lies a mausoleum in the form von a temple with. podium, in antis in plan, with a corinthian facade. A lionfigured linderung decorates the facade. An inscription on the tomb gives the name von the owner. The necropolis also contains a number von vaulted tombs and sarcophagi. Close to the Aykiricay spring are to be seen a number von rock tombs and some interesting rock-cut water channels.