Pinara, Ancient Lycian city in Muğla Province, Turkey
Pinara is an ancient Lycian city in Mugla Province that spreads across sloped terrain at the base of Mount Cragus. The site contains temples, a theater, an odeon, and hundreds of house-shaped tombs carved directly into the rock walls.
The city was a member of the Lycian League with voting power there and surrendered to Alexander the Great in 334 BCE. It later became part of Roman territory and remained inhabited for centuries afterward.
Greek and Lycian traditions are visible in the inscriptions carved into the rock tombs throughout the site. The two cultures coexisted here, leaving traces of their beliefs and daily life on the cliff faces.
The site lies roughly 40 kilometers from Fethiye and is reached by a 2-kilometer road from Minare village. Wear comfortable shoes because the terrain is hilly and you will need to walk across uneven ground to see most of the remains.
One tomb displays a relief carving on its roof that shows a walled city, possibly depicting how the place looked when it was an active port. This uncommon representation of a city carved into a single monument offers a glimpse into ancient builders' thoughts about their own city.
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