OLYMPOS

Olympos was an important Lycian city in the 2nd century BC.  The Olympians worshiped Vulcan, the god of fire (due in part to the Chimaera).  Olympos went into decline in the 1st century BC, was improved with the coming of the Romans, but by the 3rd century pirate attacks  all but destroyed the city.  In the Middle Ages, the Venetians, Genoese and Rhodeans built fortresses along the coastal cliffs, but by the 15th century the site was abandoned.   Olympos is "fairy tale pretty", set deep in a shaded valley.  The ruins appear "undiscovered" as they are set among wild grapevines, oleander, bay, fig and pine trees, rambling along the stream that runs to the sea, which is home to several species of birds.

Cirali Beach, the pebbly 3 mile beach, at the end of Olympos.  There were 2 sailing ships moored in the bay there for the night.  The ruins seen in these photos are on the North side of the stream which divides the city.  We only visited the South side and photographed some of the North.

Ruins of a fortress that had been built along the cliffs; a gorgeous little stone cottage on the beach built right up to the cliffs; the stone archway entrance to Olympos.

What you see when you go through the arch and turn the corner; part of the ruins set on the North side, peeking out of the trees; the stream (which was once a river, but like most all the port cities, silted up) which divides the city with ruins on both sides.

Harbor Tombs

An arch to who knows where; Views of the city as it rambles and winds beside the stream

The South Necropolis area with a monumental tomb and a mosaic floor.  The tomb has a Greek inscription on the lower edge of it, which we found interesting.

The Baths area (on the south side) and "The Thinker" or maybe "The Rester"

Harbor Walls

Goodbye Olympos until next time.

We will definitely be back as there was much more to see, but day light was running out and we wanted to get to our hotel in Demre before dark; that didn't happen.  Luckily it was not a large town and we found the hotel easily, went for a stroll around the town, had some dinner, went to bed and dreamed of St. Nicholas, our next stop in the past.