Ancient Theater in Turkey
 
Antiphellos

 

     
 

 

   
Other names: ./.
Roman province: Lycia, Lycia et Pamphylia
Location: Kaş, Kaş County, Province Antalya
Capacity: ca. 5.000 spectators
Dimensions: ø cavea: 50 m
ø orchestra: 13,5 m
 
   

The Hellenistic theatre from the early 1st century BC was built on a slope by the sea. The once surely wooden stage house has not been preserved. The cavea, open to the sea, holds 26 rows of seats.

 
   
The history of Antiphellos:  

Founded by the Lycians, Antiphellos was the port city of the mountain town of Phellos, 17 km away. The original name of the town was Habesos or Habesa. The first written mention under the name Antiphellos is a bilingual tomb inscription from the 4th century BC.

Only a few testimonies of the city's turbulent past are preserved. To the west of the present port there are remains of the former sea wall, to the north of which the remains of a Hellenistic temple have been preserved. It was already built in Lycian times and was restored and rebuilt several times in the following centuries. It is believed to have been dedicated to Poseidon, the protector of seafarers.

If one circles the Acropolis Hill in a westerly direction, one comes across a Doric tomb completely carved out of a rock. (photo) Except for small damages in the upper area, the tomb is completely preserved. A few meters below this tomb there is a Lycian rock tomb with an inscription in Lycian script above the door opening.

Antiphellos was incorporated into the Lycian League in the 6th century BC and minted its first coins in the 3rd century BC. From this time some artefacts survived the times.

The city, occupied by pirates in the 1st century BC, developed into modest prosperity after its expulsion by the Romans as part of the Roman province of Lykia at Pamphilia. Remains from Roman times, however, are not preserved.

 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
     
     
Photos: @chim    
Translation aid: www.DeepL.com/Translator    
Source: Wikipedia and others