History of Kas from Lycia to the Present
Antiphellos is a historical settlement in the center of Kas district of Antalya and one of the names of Kas during the Lycian period. From the bilingual inscription found in Kas, it is conclusively understood that the ancient city under Kas was Antiphellos. The name Antiphellos takes its meaning "across the rocky place", "opposite Phellos" from Phellos, which is built on the top of Mount Felen in the north, which allows it to develop. Kas's older name is Habesos than Antiphellos.
Although not enough information has been found about the history of the first settlements to this day, recent research has shown that the first settlers were luviler-Luwians who migrated from Central Asia. In the 19th century BC, Antiphellos was a very small settlement and the commercial and outward port of Phellos, located a little above the village of Çukurbağ. As the Hellenistic period entered, Phellos declined in the face of antiphellos, the port settlement where trade developed, while Antiphellos came to the forefront with trade. This situation continued during the Roman period, developing thanks to cedar tree, agriculture, olive oil trade and sponge making obtained from the forests of the inner city and used in shipbuilding (no shipyard remains were found in Antiphellos), and became a rich city that became the port of Phellos and became a rich city. Antiphellos has been known as a commercial city since the middle of the 2nd century BC, even if it was entitled to a single vote in the Lycian Union, both in its own print and in the coin that came out in the name of the union. The city continued to exist as an important port city during the Roman Empire.
The walls of the ancient city in Kas did not remain in the north and west parts, but can be seen along the peninsula road, which extends between the port and the theater in the east-west direction and overlooks Meis Island. Survivors of the ancient city of Antiphellos can be seen scattered within walking distance of everywhere in the center of Kas.
Unfortunately, the ancient city heritage, which is outside the tomb of the sarcophagus king at the upper entrance of the ancient theater and the Long Bazaar, has not been preserved much. The ancient theatre, which belongs to the Hellenistic period and was restored in 2008, is the only theatre in Anatolia built facing the sea with twenty-six seating rows (caveas). The theatre, which has a capacity of 3000 people with cut limestone blocks, had occasional activities before restoration. Sitting against the sea on the upper steps of the theater, you can watch the sun set and save a wonderful moment that fills you.
It is understood from the tombs of different periods that there is a nekrapol area around the hill set up on top of the theater. Close to the ancient theatre, female figures holding hands inside the tomb are seen in a dor-type tomb (Akdam Dor Burial) carved into a bedrock with no other examples seen in the Lycian region.
Where the walls look at the center of Kas and the harbor, the southeast of the church, which has been converted into a mosque today, is the addition to the 1st century B.C., and the remains of temples with structures that are unknown to which god dated to the 3rd century A.D.
There is a sarcophagus consisting of one block above the Long Bazaar, which rises up from the side of the Cinar tree in Kas's square. It is not known who the sarcophant belongs to because the eight lines of Lykia cannot be read. The people call it the tomb of the King because of the lion's head relief on the sarcophant, which can survive intact to the present day.
You can see two older rock tombs on the steep cliffs that extend upwards to the east of Kas. The tombs illuminated in the evening and the rock tombs in the city offer a different beauty to Kas.
One of the cisterns that meets the city's water needs is just west of the lumm, right next to the Han, which is now used as a restaurant. This cistern from the Hellenistic and Roman period is illuminated and open to visitors.
What Can You Do in Kas? Where do you go?
Kas is a paradise of nature next to historical monuments. Just west of Kas and the ancient theatre lies the Bucak sea to the south of the Çukurbağ Peninsula, where you can walk or walk around with a wonderful view of 3 Km. Boutique hotels on the peninsula decorate the peninsula.
In Kas, you can relax with the immaculate waters of Akçagerme beach, where you can get affordable service with the facilities operated by Big Pebble, Small Pebble and Tourism Application Hotel, or you can also go to Çayagzi Beach by boat. You can go to Mavi cave and then the world famous Kaputaş Beach on Kalkan road near Kas. You can also go to The Dovelik Cave, famous for its Oversized Island, Sea Cave, pigeons.
You can parachute, trekking, walk part of the Lycian way, mountaineering and rafting alongside the rich history of eyebrows. You can see The Burial, where it is located at The Green and Flyingwater Waterfall at the foot of Akdag, 65 km from Kas, to be alone with nature.
You can't come to Kas and not go to Kekova. You can go by boat from Kas or you can go to three Tri-Three by land and go by boat. It is impossible not to admire the sunken city, which is the wonder of the world by entering the sea in the stopover places. It is a great place to be seen with its smaller historical settlements and natural beauties around Kas, one of the city states of Lycia, the land of lights.
From the Lycian city of Antiphellos, the land of lights, we love you all...
