Ancient theatre and Lycian city. Pinara. Turkey.
The evocative and secluded ancient Lycian city of Pinara, is situated on a pine forested mountain foothill of the ancient Mount Cragus (now Mount Babadag),two kilometres above the village of Minare, in the Fethiye district of Mugla Province, south-western Turkey.
Pinara was discovered by Sir Charles Fellows, a British archaeologist and traveller of the 19th century.
Pinara (meaning ‘round hill’ in ancient Lycian) was established on the western bank of the River Xanthos in the 5th century BC by colonists from the overpopulated city of Xanthos, which was the largest city of the Lycian Federation.
During this period Pinara had a large natural harbour and was one of the chief ports of the influential Lycian league. The harbour no longer exists and in its place are reed-filled wetlands.
Very little was written about Pinara by ancient writers, however Strabo, the ancient Greek geographer, philosopher and historian wrote that Pinara was a very important and developed city and was one of the six principal cities of the prominent Lycian league and possessed three votes at the Federal assembly. (The other five were Xanthos, Patara, Olympus, Myra, and Tlos).
Strabo also noted that the city appears to have paid hero honours to Pandarus, Homers celebrated archer from the Trojan war.
In 334 BC the city surrendered somewhat happily to Alexander the Great, on his march through Lycia. Alexander was welcomed as a liberator by the locals due to their disdain of the former Persian occupiers. The city like the rest of Lycia was completely Hellenised during this period.
After Alexander’s death, his empire was spilt with Pinara annexed to the Attalid Kingdom, the Hellenistic Dynasty that ruled Pergamum. It eventually became under Roman rule and achieved great prosperity. During its peak, Pinara even minted its own coins.
The area was and is prone to earthquakes and the city was considerably damaged in 141 and 240 AD by large earth-shaking events. The city was somewhat rebuilt; however it was eventually abandoned in the 9th century.
The extensive and interesting site is crisscrossed by numerous footpaths and features numerous remnants from its past. Highlights include the ancient theatre, foundations of ancient temples, Cyclopean walls, an Odeon and Agora, an upper and a lower Acropolis, and thousands of rocks tombs cut into the vertical limestone cliff face, some of which are quite intricate.
Further stock photos from Pinara, Turkey and the Mediterranean can be viewed and purchased from my image library website – Mediterranean Heritage and Travel photography.
All images, text and content on this blog are copyright Steven Sklifas.
Ancient Greek style theatre. Pinara. Turkey.
View of the spectacular Greek Hellenic-style 2nd century BC theatre situated at the base of the city. The beautifully situated theatre is cut into the hillside and its 27 rows of seats accommodated up to 3,200 spectators.
South Necropolis tombs. Pinara. Turkey
View of the South Necropolis, adorned with many 4th century BC fine tombs, some surmounted with pediments resembling ancient Greek temples , indicating the influence of Hellenism in the city and region.
Ancient Greek style theatre. Pinara. Turkey.
Pinara. Turkey. View of the spectacular Greek style 2nd century BC theatre situated at the base of the city. The beautifully situated theatre is cut into the hillside and its 27 rows of seats accommodated up to 3,200 spectators.
Ancient Greek style theatre. Pinara. Turkey.
Pinara. Turkey. The well preserved Greek-style 2nd century BC theatre situated at the base of the city and which accommodated up to 3,200 spectators.
Cliff rock tombs. Pinara. Turkey.
View above Pinara of the great red cliff which rises to a height of 500 metres and which has thousands of honeycomb rocks tombs and caves cut into the vertical cliff face. The men of Pinara were considered bird-men to some ancient visitors, as they could not work out how it was humanely possible to create the tombs on the sheer cliff.
House type tombs. Pinara. Turkey.
View of house type ancient Lycian tombs. The central one has a gothic type arched roof topped with bull or Ox horns, apparently for protection from evil spirits.
Lycian sarcophagus tomb of Arttumpara. Pinara. Turkey.
View of the 4th century BC sarcophagus looted tomb of Arttumpara, who according to ancient sources was a Lycian king.
Temple ruins. Pinara. Turkey.
View of foundation ruins of a temple on the lower terrace of the ancient city. The ancient city had temples dedicated to Apollo, Athena and Aphrodite.
Ancient structure ruins. Pinara. Turkey.
View of the remains of an ancient structure. It has niches in the front and steps to its side. It could possibly have been a decorative wall of the upper terrace of the city.
Ancient theatre panoramic. Pinara. Turkey.
Pinara. Turkey. Panoramic view of the best preserved monument at Pinara, the spectacular Greek-style 2nd century BC theatre situated at the base of the city and which accommodated up to 3,200 spectators. In front to the right is a polygonal masonry structure.
Further stock photos from Pinara, Turkey and the Mediterranean can be viewed and purchased from my image library website – Mediterranean Heritage and Travel photography.
All images, text and content on this blog are copyright Steven Sklifas.
Ah. Pinara. Yes. Alexander knew on which side his Turkish bread was buttered when he moved in to that joint. Beautifully captured.
Thanks for the postive comments and very funny reply Danny. All the best.