Ancient City of Telmessos — Attraction in Fethiye

"Amintas Rock Tombs: Witnessing Fethiye's Ties to Ancient Civilizations Amidst Natural Splendor"

In the picturesque harbor town of Fethiye, where the turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea lap against rugged mountainous terrain, a distinct fusion of natural beauty and ancient civilization unfolds. Fethiye's rich tapestry of history is woven into its captivating landscape, offering visitors an immersion into an epoch long past yet strikingly preserved. No site exemplifies this more vividly than the fascinating Amintas Rock Tombs.

Carved into the face of the mountains that cradle Fethiye, the Amintas Rock Tombs bear witness to the town's enduring connection to the ancient Lycians. These grandiose tombs, dating back to the 4th century BC, are an imposing spectacle. The largest of them, dubbed the "Tomb of Amintas," stands proud with an ornately carved façade resembling a classical Hellenistic temple.

Elevated above the town, the tombs offer a breathtaking panoramic vista of Fethiye and its glittering marina. The journey to the site, though somewhat steep, rewards the adventurer with stunning views that beautifully amalgamate history with nature.

The tombs' silent grandeur, etched into the very bones of the landscape, carries echoes of the Lycians, a civilization lost in the mist of time. But here in Fethiye, amidst olive groves and pine-clad hills, their legacy endures, eternally standing sentinel over the town.

In contrast to this ancient majesty, the thriving life of modern Fethiye hums below. The vibrant town, with its bustling bazaars, enchanting eateries, and charming streets, paints a compelling picture of the seamless coexistence of the old and the new.

The Amintas Rock Tombs, thus, are more than just an archaeological site. They serve as a gateway into the timeless saga of Fethiye, its people, and its undying ties to a heritage dating back millennia. Amidst the awe-inspiring spectacle of Fethiye's natural beauty, the tombs stand as a poignant testament to humanity's enduring struggle against the passage of time. A visit to Fethiye, therefore, is not merely a trip; it's a journey back through the annals of time, a journey that promises to leave every traveler...

Telmessos was the ancient name of Fethiye. The oldest civilization of the Anatolian, it is the most important city on the border of Caria and the Lycian civilization in the west . We do not have  precise information regarding its first establishment. Written documents states that its history is dated back to the 5th century BC. According to the legend of the Lycian, God Apollo who falls in love with the Phoenician King Agenor's daughter and he steals her heart.  The children born from this marriage were both named Telmessos. The city which was established by Apollo named it as 'Telmessos' and dedicated to his sons. Telmessos, all cities of Lycia and Caria were seized by the  King of Persian Harpagos in 547 BC. Therefore the area becomes 1.satrap (Persian governor). It participated to Antique-Delos unity.  Telmossos became an independent city by separating from the Union in the 4th century BC, it continues to pursue its...

Telmessos

Telmessos was a member of the Lycian Union in antiquity. Telmessos, which was the largest city in Lycia, was called Telebehi in the Lycian language. The name of the modern town on the site is Fethiye. The well protected harbour of Telmessos is separated from the Gulf of Fethiye by an island.

The ancient Lycian city of Telmessos is located on 30 km long fertile plain to the south of the Gulf of Fethiye. Because it is situated on the Mediterranean shore, Telmessos is the only place around that has been settled continuously since the day it was founded.

There are a fort, an amphitheatre and rock tombs, dating back to the Roman period. Impressive temples and other constructions are hewn from the cliff face at the site of Telmessos...