PHASELIS ANCIENT CITY

🏛️ Phaselis Ancient City

Phaselis Ancient City is believed to have been founded in the 7th century BC by Rhodian colonists on a small peninsula extending into the Mediterranean Sea. According to legend, when the colonists offered corn or dried fish to the local people, they responded by asking for fish instead. Thanks to its strategic geographical position, Phaselis quickly became an important harbor city. The city had three natural harbors—one on the northern side of the peninsula, one to the northeast, and one on the southwestern coast. These harbors, along with the agoras and ship depictions found on city coins, clearly emphasize Phaselis’ identity as a major commercial port.

Located between the regions of Lycia and Pamphylia, Phaselis is sometimes attributed to either region, though in reality it stood directly between their borders. Throughout its history, the city came under Persian control in the 5th century BC, followed by the Carian Satrap Mausolus in the 4th century BC, and later King Perikles of neighboring Limyra. One of the most remarkable moments in its history occurred in 333 BC, when the citizens welcomed Alexander the Great with a golden crown.

After Alexander’s death, Phaselis changed hands several times before joining the Lycian League in 167 BC, during which it minted its own league coins. Following periods of pirate raids—particularly alongside the neighboring city of Olympos—the city came under Roman rule in 43 BC. This marked the beginning of a long era of reconstruction and prosperity that lasted for nearly 300 years. In AD 129, Emperor Hadrian visited the city, and the monumental single-arched gate at the entrance of the main street from the southern harbor was erected in his honor.

During the 5th and 6th centuries, Phaselis remained under Byzantine rule and was among the cities that participated in the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD. After Arab raids in the 7th century, the city experienced a brief revival in the 8th century. However, following the Seljuk siege in 1158, combined with earthquakes and the loss of harbor functionality, Phaselis gradually declined and was completely abandoned by the early 13th century.

Most of the ruins visible today date from the Roman and Byzantine periods. These remains are arranged along the city’s main axis, which connects the northern and southern harbors. The main street widens between the agora and the theater, forming a small square. From the southeastern corner of this square, steps lead to the theater and the acropolis. The theater itself is a small, typical Hellenistic structure. Archaeological evidence shows that a stage building was added during the Roman period, and later, in the Late Byzantine era, part of its wall was incorporated into the city’s defensive fortifications.

One of the most impressive surviving structures is the aqueduct system. In earlier periods, the city’s water needs were met through wells and cisterns. During the Roman era, however, water was transported from distant springs via aqueducts, then distributed throughout the city using clay pipes and channels—an advanced engineering achievement for its time.

Phaselis contained three agoras: one opposite the theater and two located along the main street leading to the southern harbor. Within the agora facing the theater lie the remains of a small Byzantine basilica. Other notable structures include two bath complexes—one large and one small—located near the city square. The smaller bath provides valuable insight into the Roman hypocaust heating system. Historians believe that the city’s principal deity was Athena, the goddess of wisdom and warfare. Although the Temple of Athena has not yet been discovered, it is thought to have stood on the forest-covered acropolis hill along with other significant buildings.

Phaselis, together with other ancient cities of the Lycian Civilization in Antalya and Muğla, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2009.

How to Get to Phaselis Ancient City

Phaselis Ancient City is located approximately 20 minutes by car from Kemer city center.

In addition to boat tours, the site can be reached by private car or public transportation.
Visitors can travel by bus to the entrance of the ancient city and then walk for about 30 minutes to reach the ruins.

Phaselis Ancient City is located approximately 60-70 minutes by car from Antalya city center.

Visitors can travel by a private van to the entrance of the ancient city.

Airport Antalya Transfers will be a good option to reach there.

There is a parking area at the entrance, and admission to the site is paid.

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– Travel cancellation insurance

– Breakfast and dinner included

– Health care included

– Transfer to the airport and return to the agency

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