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Kurşunlutepe, Patara
These views
were taken from Kuşunlutepe hill directly behind the amphitheatre. If you
can climb to the top of the hill, it is well worth the 360 degree view
(climb up from the top of the theatre which is built into the hill). More
information about the hill can be found below.



More views from atop the
hill

Not too much has been found on
this hill, contrary to excavators expectations. There are the remains
of a base that may be the foundation of an Athena temple and a rock-cut
sarcophagus and a rock carving with a pedestal. The slope that goes
down to the harbor was a necropolis with the remains of sarcophagi and
monumental tombs.
There are only two structures
of note: a cistern and a temple-tomb. Click the photos of them below
to enlarge.
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Cistern

Temple tomb |
The cistern
was carved out of the top of the hill and probably held 630,000
litres of water, enough for 800 people at 4.5 litres per person per
day. Since the population in Hellenistic times was 10 times
that, additional water must have come from wells as there was no
aquaduct yet The cistern is 8 metres deep and 12 metres across
with 13 steps leading to the bottom and it was waterproofed with
plaster. The only other place one can see the same type of
cistern is on the nearby Greek island of Meis (Costellorizo).
The temple-tomb was an impressive
structure with a commanding view and most likely held the body of a
very distinguished person. It sits on a 11 x 13 metres podium
and may have stood 13.5 metres high, crowing the necropolis below
and dating to the Roman era.
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Note: Information on this page is from the
book Patara: The History and Ruins of The Capital City of Lycian League
by Dr. Fahri Işıki (head excavator of Patara), Orkun and Ozan Medya
Hizmetleri A.Ş. 2000. I believe this is a limited edition book and
unfortunately I don't know where it can be purchased. |