Olympos Ancient City

Olympos Ancient City

Located on the coast near Cirali, on the southern slopes of Tahtali Mountain and 70 kilometers from Antalya, the ancient city of Olympos was a member of the Lycian League, although the exact date of its membership is unknown. It began minting coins for the League around 130 BC, in the second century BC, and had three votes, making it one of the League's six most important cities.

The ancient city of Olympos is home to a variety of Roman and Byzantine ruins that are worth visiting. The area boasts numerous springs, each with lukewarm and drinkable water, which has resulted in the growth of an array of herbs throughout the region. However, the overgrown vegetation surrounding the area may make it easy to overlook this ancient city. In addition to its historical remains, the Olympos Ancient City is also a rich hub of plant life, which adds to its charm and appeal.

Olympos Ancient City

Olympos, an ancient city situated on the southern slopes of Tahtali Mountain near Cirali, boasts an array of Roman and Byzantine ruins that visitors can explore. The city was a member of the Lycian League and began producing League coins around 130 BC, eventually becoming one of the League's six most significant cities with three votes.

Some of the most notable structures that have survived to this day include the temple gate, theatre, northern and southern necropolis, entrance complex, Alcestis sarcophagus, monumental graves in the harbor area, harbor basilica, southern slope settlement with a mosaic-floored bathhouse, and the agora. The city walls and towers in the bay have been preserved since ancient times.

The temple gate, located on the south of the Akcay River, is particularly intriguing. Meanwhile, the theater, which can accommodate around 5000 people, is situated in the southern part of the city on the northern slope of the hill. The Necropolis Church can be found in the northwest part of the city, which is divided by the river. In addition to its historic remnants, Olympos Ancient City is also home to a diverse range of plant life, which visitors can appreciate.

During the Roman era, Olympos was designated a bishopric of the metropolitan see of Myra, which was the capital of the province of Lycia. The first recorded bishop of Olympos was Saint Methodius, who served from approximately AD 300 until his martyrdom around AD 311. Aristocritus attended both the Council of Ephesus in 431 and the Council of Chalcedon in 451. Anatolius signed a joint letter from the Lycian bishops to Byzantine Emperor Leo I the Thracian in 458 concerning the murder of Proterius of Alexandria. Ioannes participated in a synod called by Patriarch Menas of Constantinople in 536. The Metropolis of Myra had authority over 36 cities and their respective bishops, including Olympos.