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The mysterious cities of the dead carved into the sides of cliffs
CNN ^ | December 6, 2024 | Barry Neild

Posted on 01/19/2025 8:55:54 PM PST by SunkenCiv

The ancient Lycians knew a thing or two about democracy. Two thousand years ago, the one-time rulers of modern-day Turkey's southwestern corner had a fully functioning democratic federation that centuries later inspired America's political structure.

While democracies everywhere might be facing turbulent times, another Lycian legacy remains steadfastly present in the Mediterranean region they used to call home. And this one is focused almost entirely around death.

Drive around the coast of this beautiful region and you'll never be too far from a spectacular city of the dead – elaborate tombs carved by Lycians into the sides of cliffs overlooking towns, valleys and shorelines.

That's not all. Scattered throughout the countryside and towns are imposing sarcophagi that likely once held the remains of high and mighty denizens of Lycia. Indeed, they're such a familiar sight that they're often casually included as part of urban landscapes...

A good starting place is Fethiye, a low-key port city that's a useful jumping-off point for great beaches and attractions all along Turkey's so-called Turquoise Coast riviera. After a day of swimming in those glorious waters, it's worth a sunset trek to the overlooking cliffs.

Here, way up above the city — known as Telmessos in Lycian times — and with a commanding view as the last golden moments of the day melt into the Aegean, are the Aminthas Rock Tombs, a honeycomb of carved portals dating from the 4th century BCE.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: fethiye; godsgravesglyphs; lycia; lycians; turkey
This cliff tomb above the city of Fethiye is a great place to watch the sun go down.
Barry Neild/CNN
Barry Neild/CNN


1 posted on 01/19/2025 8:55:54 PM PST by SunkenCiv
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To: 240B; 75thOVI; Adder; albertp; asgardshill; At the Window; bitt; blu; BradyLS; cajungirl; ...
The other GGG topics added since the previous digest ping, alpha:

2 posted on 01/19/2025 8:57:41 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Putin should skip ahead to where he kills himself in the bunker.)
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To: SunkenCiv
For those interested:


3 posted on 01/19/2025 10:46:29 PM PST by know.your.why
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To: SunkenCiv

Some serious carving, and with just chisels and hammers.


4 posted on 01/19/2025 11:19:08 PM PST by Omnivore-Dan (Shut)
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To: SunkenCiv

For those who want to know more about the governance connection with us. It involves James Madison and is pretty interesting...

The Lycian Confederation and the American Constitution

https://www.tc-america.org/issues-information/us-turkey-relations/the-lycian-confederation-and-the-american-constitution-153.htm


5 posted on 01/20/2025 1:41:44 AM PST by Openurmind
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To: Openurmind

Good article.

Thanks!


6 posted on 01/20/2025 4:26:11 AM PST by Adder (End fascism...defeat all Democrats.)
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To: SunkenCiv

... the one-time rulers of modern-day Turkey’s southwestern corner had a fully functioning democratic federation that centuries later inspired America’s political structure.

Barry, that was Greece, not some (unknown at the time) city state in Anatolia.


7 posted on 01/20/2025 5:24:11 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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To: Openurmind

Probably more believable than the Iroquois claim which began in the 1970s.


8 posted on 01/20/2025 5:52:14 AM PST by Ruy Dias de Bivar
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To: PIF
You come not to praise but to Barry Neild. :^)

It appears to try to reference what was then the Ionian Greek area, but the major city in SW Anatolia was the Carian city Halicarnassus, which remained a prosperous monarchy, until it was conquered by the Persians, after which it was a prosperous monarchy under the rule of Persia. :^)

9 posted on 01/20/2025 6:35:35 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Putin should skip ahead to where he kills himself in the bunker.)
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To: know.your.why

Thanks!

https://www.ynharari.com/book/sapiens-2/


10 posted on 01/20/2025 6:37:48 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Putin should skip ahead to where he kills himself in the bunker.)
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To: Openurmind; Adder; Ruy Dias de Bivar
Thanks!

11 posted on 01/20/2025 6:38:37 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Putin should skip ahead to where he kills himself in the bunker.)
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To: Omnivore-Dan

Thanks O-D. Had I realized there was this much interest (six replies is *huge*, seriously) in the Lycians, this would have gone up long ago. :^) Takes the sting out of my 20 year old “bisons” topic.

https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1476377/posts

https://freerepublic.com/tag/bison/index?tab=articles


12 posted on 01/20/2025 6:41:25 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Putin should skip ahead to where he kills himself in the bunker.)
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To: SunkenCiv

And thank you!


13 posted on 01/20/2025 6:58:03 AM PST by Openurmind
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To: Openurmind

He’s got some vid links there, could make a nice topic or two.


14 posted on 01/20/2025 7:00:23 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Putin should skip ahead to where he kills himself in the bunker.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Your OP sent me on a chase so I figured you might want that link I found.

History is a treasure hunt... :)


15 posted on 01/20/2025 7:19:48 AM PST by Openurmind
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To: Openurmind

Oh, and sorry, I got mixed up, the vids were on the page about the sapiens book. [blush]


16 posted on 01/20/2025 7:29:31 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Putin should skip ahead to where he kills himself in the bunker.)
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To: SunkenCiv

:)


17 posted on 01/20/2025 7:47:40 AM PST by Openurmind
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To: SunkenCiv

I am very interested in ancient artifacts and civilizations that are little known about, and pertain to the Americas.


18 posted on 01/20/2025 3:57:25 PM PST by Omnivore-Dan (Shut)
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To: Omnivore-Dan

some examples possibly of interest:

https://freerepublic.com/tag/preclovis/index?tab=articles

https://freerepublic.com/tag/precolumbian/index?tab=articles

https://freerepublic.com/tag/olmecs/index?tab=articles

https://freerepublic.com/tag/cahokia/index?tab=articles


19 posted on 01/20/2025 7:14:23 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Putin should skip ahead to where he kills himself in the bunker.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Thanks. Very interesting readings.


20 posted on 01/21/2025 5:33:32 AM PST by Omnivore-Dan (Shut)
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