Tombs of Ancient Olimpos
Tombs of Ancient Olimpos in Kemer, Turkey
The tombs of ancient Olimpos are located near the village of Cirali, on the coast south of Kemer, within the Olimpos-Beydaglari National Park. This is part of the ruins of the ancient city, lying in a narrow coastal valley among pine-covered slopes and opening onto a pebble beach.
Olimpos was part of the Lycian League from the 2nd century BC and developed in the Hellenistic and Roman periods. The funerary monuments clearly reflect a mix of Lycian and Roman traditions, so the necropolises here are prominent and diverse.
The archaeological zone is divided by the bed of the Akcay (Olimpos Cay). On the slopes there are rock-cut chambers with facades, while on the terraces and along the paths stand freestanding sarcophagi from the Roman period. Their condition varies: in places you can see fragments of ornament and inscriptions, while some surfaces are weathered.
A visit to the tombs is usually combined with a walk through the valley to the beach and an examination of the other ruins of Olimpos. Here it is interesting to see, in a small area, different types of ancient burials and to imagine the layout of the city's necropolises.
Tombs of Ancient Olimpos on the map
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Tombs of Ancient Olimpos on the slopes of the Akcay Valley
Trails run between stone sarcophagi and rock-cut tombs
Lycian sarcophagi and rock-cut tombs along the banks of the Akcay
Paths lead along both banks of the stream to separate groups of funerary monuments. On the ledges, stone sarcophagi on pedestals with gabled lids are visible; nearby are bases, slabs, and lids shifted by time. Chambers cut into the slope with facade openings appear a little higher up the hillsides, some of them partially covered by soil and vegetation.
On a number of sarcophagi, fragments of Greek inscriptions and traces of decorative stonework have been preserved. You can see elements typical of Lycian forms - house-shaped lids, massive bases, neatly finished facing slabs. Certain features are marked with information panels, and some areas are fenced for conservation.
The route runs along dirt roads and paths, with roots and stones in places, so comfortable footwear is essential. Pines and shrubs provide shade along the way; there is no need to wade across the streambed - small bridges are provided. Viewing the necropolises is convenient to combine with a visit to the central part of the ruins and an exit to the beach at the mouth of the valley.
Nearby are the natural site Chimera Yanartas above Cirali and the ruins of Phaselis to the north, near the settlement of Tekirova. You can get here from Kemer via the D400 highway to the turnoff for Cirali, then about 7 km along the local road by car or dolmus; the entrance to the ruins is from the Cirali side through the checkpoint by the beach.
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Photos of the tombs of Olimpos
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