Lost Cities of the Lycian Civilization: Xanthos, Patara, Myra & Olympos.

A city remembered for defiance

Historically, Xanthos gained a reputation for heroic resistance and tragic sacrifice. According to Herodotus, in 546 BCE the Persians under Harpagus besieged the city. The Xanthians, refusing to submit, allegedly chose to destroy their city and perish rather than surrender. Archaeological evidence of a violent destruction layer supports the account of a fiery fall during the Achaemenid conquest.

Remarkably, a similar tragedy was later associated with Xanthos during the Roman civil wars. In 42 BCE, the city was besieged by Brutus, one of Caesar’s assassins. Roman sources recount that the citizens again burned the city and themselves, demonstrating the fierce independence for which Lycians became famous. These two episodes gave Xanthos its legendary identity as a city that “died twice” for liberty.

Despite these disasters, Xanthos rose again. Under Persian rule it became the seat of Lycian dynasts. In the Hellenistic era it prospered and struck its own coinage. It later became a founding member of the Lycian League and, after Lycia was annexed by Rome in 43 CE, was absorbed into the Roman province of Lycia et Pamphylia. By Late Antiquity, Xanthos had a Christian bishopric and several churches, before declining and eventually being abandoned.

From Lycian capital to buried ruin

Patara’s fortunes reflected Lycia’s wider history. The city was known in Hittite texts and was important by the Classical period. In the Hellenistic age, it changed hands among Alexander the Great’s successors and was even renamed Arsinoe for a time under Ptolemaic rule. Once Lycia regained autonomy, Patara resumed its status as a central city of the league.

The Roman period brought new prominence. The theatre, baths, granaries and lighthouse testified to the city’s prosperity. The lighthouse, erected under Emperor Nero in 64 CE, is one of the oldest known lighthouses, and its reconstruction from original stones has become one of the most exciting archaeological projects in the region.

Patara is also associated with the early Christian world as the birthplace of St. Nicholas, born around 270 CE. Nicholas later became bishop of Myra and was remembered for generosity and miracles, eventually becoming the figure behind the Santa Claus tradition. This gives Patara significance for Christian heritage as well as classical history.

Patara declined when its harbour gradually silted up with sand and alluvium. Earthquakes and raids further weakened the city, and by the medieval period it had largely been abandoned. Over time, dunes and marshes covered much of the ancient settlement.

Rock tombs, theatre and Andriake harbour

Myra’s cliffside necropolis is one of the great visual symbols of Lycian heritage. The tombs are carved directly into limestone cliffs above the ancient theatre and resemble wooden houses or temple façades. Many include pillared fronts, inscriptions, reliefs and scenes linked to the deceased and their families.

The so-called Painted Tomb or Lion’s Tomb preserves traces of colour and sculptural decoration, reminding visitors that ancient Lycian tombs were not always the bare stone monuments we see today. They were once vivid, symbolic and deeply connected to beliefs about death, memory and status.

At the foot of the tomb cliffs stands the Great Theatre of Myra, often described as the largest theatre in Lycia. Its seating area is well preserved, and the stage building still displays carved decorative fragments. Visitors can walk through the entrances, stand in the performance area and view the tombs rising behind the theatre.

Nearby Andriake was Myra’s harbour. Its granary, warehouses and other harbour remains now help visitors understand Lycia’s maritime trade and the connection between inland cities and the sea. The Museum of Lycian Civilizations at Andriake adds further context for travellers interested in inscriptions, coins, trade and everyday life.

Pirates, Rome and a forest-covered ruin

In the late Hellenistic period, Olympos became caught up in the rise of piracy in the eastern Mediterranean. Its secluded coastal position made it a useful base for Cilician pirates, and in the 1st century BCE it was captured by the pirate captain Zenicetes, who used it as a stronghold alongside nearby Phaselis.

Rome eventually moved against the pirates. In 78 BCE, Publius Servilius Vatia campaigned against them, besieging Olympos. Ancient accounts state that Zenicetes set fire to his own stronghold and died rather than be captured. Olympos was damaged but later resettled under Roman control.

Under Rome, the city entered a new period of stability. Emperor Hadrian visited Olympos in 129 CE, and the settlement saw improvements such as a rebuilt harbour, a marble-paved main street and granaries. Christianity also reached Olympos early, and one of its bishops, Methodius, became an important Christian theologian and martyr.

Through the Byzantine and medieval periods, Olympos continued as a modest coastal settlement. Venetian and Genoese traders later fortified parts of the coast. By the 15th century, however, Olympos was abandoned, possibly because of disease, changing trade routes or migration to more secure locations. Over time, vegetation reclaimed the ruins.