Anatolian Civilizations and Historical Sites - TEDA

ANATOLIAN CIVILIZATIONS:10x19 antik kentler 8/1/11 10:51 AM Sayfa
In the middle of the group, about half-way up, are two tombs one above
the other, with a third at the side; over the upper tomb is a more
elaborate relief showing a man reclining on a couch, with his wife
sitting beside him and three armed men, apparently his sons, standing
to the left; smaller figures carrying a bowl and a double flute approach
the bed from the left. The most interesting inscription is found on the
tomb next to the theater, in which it reads, ‘Moschus loves Philiste,
daughter of Demetrius.’
After sufficiently inspecting these tombs, let us check out the tombs on
the eastern face of the hill, that is, the place that is called the river
necropolis on the east side. The tombs here resemble those next to the
theater. Not much above ground-level, and approached by a somewhat
uncomfortable rock-path, is the monument known as the Painted
Tomb, certainly one of the most striking throughout Lycia.
It is of the usual house-type and has in the interior a bench on the right
and left sides; in front is a leveled platform with steps leading up on
one side. But the outstanding feature is the group of eleven life-size
figures in relief. In the porch on the spectator's left is the reclining
figure of a bearded man raising a wine-cup in his right hand, evidently
the father of the family, and on the opposite wall a seated woman,
presumably his wife, with her children on either side of her.
On the smoothed rock-face outside the porch there stands on the left
a tall commanding figure, apparently the same as the reclining figure,
but dressed for outdoors with a cloak and a long staff in his right hand.
On the rocks to the right are five more figures: first a tall female raising
her veil, similarly no doubt identical with the seated woman in the
porch; her daughter stands beside her holding her hand. In addition to
the family, servants are also depicted in the tomb. The identification of
this scene is not entirely clear, but it appears that the figures in the
porch represent the family's indoor life, while those on the rocks
outside show them issuing forth from the house.
The three on the extreme right must then depict a separate scene. At
all events it is clear that there is no question of a family visit to the
tomb; the monument as a whole represents not a tomb but the family
dwelling. The colors, which Fellows saw as red, blue, yellow, and
purple, have now nearly disappeared, apart from a red and blue
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