Olympos
Olympos is one of the six major cities that Strabo describes as having had three votes each in the Lycian League. Existing records and remains indicate that Olympos was founded in Hellenistic times, and that its people were of an ethnic makeup different from that of the Lycians. The oldest record we have of the city is its League coinage dating to the second century B.C. After half-an hour's walk north-west of Olympos, one arrives at a hill about 300-400 metres in altitude. On top of it is a natural gas flame that has been burning for thousands of years. Described in some ancient sources as extraordinary and astounding, it is known today in the surrounding area as "Yanartas" of "Burning stone". This unextinguishable flame is mentioned in Homer's epic poem the lliad, as the sport where the heroic Bellerophontes killed the Chimaera, firebreathing mythical beast with the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and tail in the form of a serpent. The only trace the monster left on the face of the earth was his fiery breath, which has continued to spew forth its flame for centuries.

The village of Olympos, known locally as Cirali, has long stretches of almost virgin beach, as well as some remains like an acropolis, a necropolis and a ruined theatre and also the imposing cella portal of the Olympos temple, all of which testify to its former greatness.






 

Xanthos

Patara

Lycia

Kas (Antiphellos)

Simena

Myra

Phaselis

Olympos

Church of St. Nicholas - Myra

Aspendos