Hi! I present to you the continuation of the article about the fascinating abandoned city of Lyrboton Kome, located in the north of Antalya. In the previous material, I wrote about how to get here. Today, I will tell you about the history of this site. Surprisingly, despite its proximity to well-known tourist spots in Antalya, I have found very few facts about the ruins of this ancient settlement.
A Bit of History
The ruined structures of the city are situated in the Kepez district of Antalya, easily accessible by tram or bus. The entrance to the territory of the ancient complex is about a half-hour walk from the stops. You can freely explore the park with its ancient constructions; the area is not enclosed.
The city authorities have plans to transform this site into an archaeological park. The efforts to beautify the place are not yet complete, and currently, there are several potentially hazardous open pits on the grounds that could pose risks to tourists.
It is believed that Lyrboton Kome is approximately 2,200 years old. The ancient city once served as a primary center for the production of olive oil for Perge, a larger settlement located to the east. Lyrboton Kome was one of the earliest centers for the production of this product in all of Anatolia.
The first modern information about the ruins of the ancient city dates back to the early 20th century. The efforts to create an archaeological park began in 2014 and continued for four years. Researchers recall that when they first arrived for the excavations, they had no idea where to go. The ruins were hidden beneath overgrown vegetation, and there were no paths for tourists to walk on, as is the case today.
The ancient city covers an area of 452 thousand square meters. Within the settlement, there were residential buildings, workshops for oil production, baths, churches, and burial sites. Over a hundred water cisterns were carved directly into the stone, likely corresponding to the numerous sinkholes in the archaeological park.
Articles about this place mention a certain Arete Tower. According to the Kepez district's website, there are plans by the authorities for its restoration. In the future, other reconstructed structures such as houses, churches, and an olive oil factory building will also be added to the site.
I hope you found it interesting to learn about this remarkable attraction. Next time, we'll take a stroll through the ruins of the city of Perge, which I mentioned earlier. I can confidently recommend it to anyone planning a trip to Antalya.
Have a nice trip!
