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Oenoanda, as well as Cibyra and Bubona, belong to the northern section of the area, which in antiquity was known by the name of Lycia. No populations from mainland Greece ever settled there, but the Greek language flourished in these lands as much as in Ionia and Aeolis. The local population had already ceased using Lycian from the fourth century BC but never stopped emphasizing their origins and traditions. The Lycian people, as they called themselves, considered themselves part of Hellenism, but unique thanks to their Lycian characteristics. The Mediterranean once favored composite, cosmopolitan identities.

ISTANBUL, Turkey, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- An ancient city in Turkey's Aegean area will be covered with sand instead of silt and clay then inundated with reservoir water from a new dam, officials say.Environmentalists say the decision to use sand to cover the ancient city of Alliaonoi will mean the ultimate destruction of an architectural treasure, Hurriet Daily News reported Friday.Despite efforts by environmentalists, a Turkish preservation board said sand would be used to cover the city before waters from the Yortanli Dam flood the region.The Allianoi Initiative, spearheading a legal fight against the construction of the dam, objected to...

Ancient Thermal City to Be Flooded in Turkey 23/06/2005The 1,800-year-old city of Allianoi will be flooded in November by the Yortanli Dam. [File] Archeologists, environmentalists and international NGOs are joining together to try to find a way to save an 1,800-year-old archeological site, due to be flooded this November by the waters from a new dam. By Allan Cove for Southeast European Times – 23/06/05 The world's oldest known ancient thermal city, Allianoi, stands to be flooded when the Yortanli Dam begins operation this November. Located in the very centre of the planned dam lake, it will be submerged under...