Anatolian Civilizations and Historical Sites - TEDA

ANATOLIAN CIVILIZATIONS:10x19 antik kentler 8/1/11 10:51 AM Sayfa
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result of the discomfort caused by the Arab raids, the frequent flooding
over of the banks of the Myros Stream in which some structures were
filled with earth, along with earthquakes that hit the region, the city
was abandoned whereas Myra was subsequently identified as being a
village. When the Turks arrived in this area, they encountered a
shrunken Myra.
There isn't much remaning on the acropolis, which is situated on the
mountain above the theater. Spratt, who visited Myra in 1842, stated
that besides some small rocks nothing else remained on the acropolis.
The city walls, from the Roman Age have some wall remains that date
to the Hellenistic Age and in fact even as far back as the 5th century BC.
Near the theater as you go towards the city, you will come across some
later period ruins on the left side of the road that could be either baths
or a basilica. Myra's water needs were met through aqueducts that
opened onto the rock face on the side of the valley where the Demre
Stream flowed. It is possible to see these aqueducts today. The other
structures of Myra are buried underground and are waiting for the time
when they see daylight again. While arriving in Myra, one will notice a
well-preserved Roman Period monument tomb at a place called
Karabucak above the road. Andriace, which is the harbor of Myra at the
mouth of the stream, was known as a famous soothsaying center,
where as there is also the ancient city of Trabenda, which is in Gürses,
a few kilometers outside Soura. Now beginning from the theater, let's
get acquainted with the rock-tombs and the Church of St. Nicholas.
Rock Tombs: The famous rock-tombs of Myra are in two main groups,
one above the theater and the other in a place called the river
necropolis on the east side.
Just to the west of the theater the steep cliff is honeycombed with
closely packed tombs of greatly varying form and size, though the
majority are as usual of house-type. Many of them are quite elaborate,
and some are decorated with reliefs in color. A few are of temple-type.
Again, one can see steps carved out of the rock that lead to the
temples. The tomb found at the level of the theater orchestra is of
house-type with a pediment in which are two warriors carrying shields
and moving to the left; the man on the right appears to be grasping the
other's shield as if to tear it from him.