Tlos was one of the six principal and powerful  cities of Lycia. It is located near the resort town of Fethiye in Mugla province of southern Turkey some 4 kilometres northwest of Saklikent Gorge.

The city once bore the title under the Roman Empire of  ‘the very brilliant metropolis of the Lycian nation’.   It is one of the oldest and largest settlements of Lycia (known as ‘Tlawa’ in Lycian inscriptions) and was eventually inhabited by Ottoman Turks, one of the few Lycian cities  that continued  its existance through the 19th century.  There is evidence that Tlos was a member of the Lycian Federation from the 2nd century BC.  Two wealthy philanthropists, one of which was Opramoas of Rhodiapolis, were responsible for much of the building in the 2nd century AD.  Inscriptions tell us that the citizens were divided into demes, the names of three of them are known: Bellerophon, Lobates and Sarpedon, famous legendery heroes. There was also a Jewish community that  existed with its own magistrates.

 Tlos was the shining star of the region in archaeological, cultural, religious and economic terms throughout the history.   It bears the traces of the settlement that continued uninterruptedly from the Neolithic period to the Iron Age.  In the written sources of the Hittites, (Anal, Annual) Tlos was mentioned as a country.  Its significance continued until the 12th century especially as a religious area. It also carries the traces of the Ottoman Period. In the 18th century,  Tlos was at the crossroads of the region’s trade routes. Influence of many cultures upon Tlos has resulted in an interesting collage of structures.  Tlos irepresents three ancient sites in one.  Firstly the spectacular rock tombs set in the side of a high rocky promontory, secondly Roman remains, and thirdly an Ottoman Turkish fortress that dominates the acropolis hill.  you can see fine examples of sarcophagi, a theatre, a Roman stadium, baths, and a Byzantine church remains in the complex.

Tlos Ancient theaterIt is also a romantic place with lush nature and many of the buildings are vine-covered (especially the large bath), it would have been the perfect location for any romantic painter.  Yaka village now co-exists with Tlos and the fields and pomegranate trees make for very picturesque scenery.  Tlos is a popular destination for tours from the coastal cities.  The whole area it is situated in is beautiful with many small villages.

Yakaköy, Saklıkent Yolu, 48850 Fethiye/Muğla, Turkey

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