PATARA

Patara, located around Kas in the Antalya province, is one of the ancient Lycian towns. It was once the capital of the Lycian Federation, one of the six most important members of the Lycian Union. The parliament house of Patara, accepted as the oldest in the world, was the site of the union’s meetings. Patara is also renowned for the Caretta-Caretta sea turtles of the Mediterranean, which have been laying their eggs on the beaches of Patara for millions of years.

LOCATION OF PATARA TURKEY

Patara, located in the south of Turkey within the village boundaries of Gelemis, belongs to Kas in the Antalya province. It lies east of the Esen River, between the towns of Fethiye and Kalkan. Considered the gateway to western Lycia, Patara was founded close to an estuary on the landward side, approximately 2 km from the sea. As a result, the city was safe for sea trade and could not be easily occupied due to the narrow passage. Today, the ancient ruins of Patara cover an area of 10 square km.

HISTORY OF ANTALYA PATARA

The latest excavations have revealed that Patara (known as Pat in Hittite and Ptar in Lycian) was founded in the 8th century BC by the Lycians, who had migrated from Mesopotemia. It was surrounded by Alexander the Great in 334 BC during the Hellenistic period, and in the 3rd century BC it became the leader city of the Lycian region under Ptolemaic rule. The beginning of the 2nd century BC saw it come under the control of the Seleucid kingdom, and it was recognized as the capital of Lycia. Numerous monumental buildings, a parliament, and a theatre were constructed during the Hellenistic period.

In 43 AD, Patara was a Roman city. By 74 AD, the Roman Senate combined Patara and Pamphylia into one state, making Patara the capital of Lycia once again. For three hundred years, Patara was a naval base and grain store due to its port. During Byzantine times, the city was an important hub for Christians and Santa Claus – who is known as Father Christmas – was born in Patara.

In addition to this, St. Paul boarded a ship from Patara to go to Rome during his missionary journeys. In medieval times, strong winds caused difficulty for boats to approach the harbor, which measured 400 meters in width and 1600 meters in depth. These winds filled and hurled Patara with sand, covering a large portion of the city. Even today, there is still evidence of the residue beneath the sand. Patara has also been an important center for the arrival of the Turks since the 14th century up to the present.

THE SIGHTS IN PATARA

Since 1988, a team of archaeologists from the University of the Mediterranean have been excavating Patara. To date, a number of historical structures have been unearthed and opened to the public. Visitors can view the Roman Triumphal Arch, built in 100 AD in honor of the Roman governor, which marks the beginning of the extant ruins. On the western slopes of the hill lie the Lycian sarcophagus cemetery. The theater, perched on the southern end of the city, is in a remarkable state of preservation. Other notable sights include the Vespasian Bath, Corinthian Temple, main street and port granaries. These sites provide a wealth of information about Patara’s past. North of the theater lies the Parliament building, which hosted meetings of the Lycian Union when Patara was the regional capital.