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Phaselis
The ancient port of
Phaselis  lies
on the coastal road from
Antalya to Finike, at 58
km from Antalya. It can
also be reached by boat:
various companies offer
guided tours from the
nearby tourist town of
Kemer.
Phaselis was one of the
major ports of eastern
Lycia in the Hellenistic
period. It became a
bishopric in late Roman
times.Phaselis was
famous for its three
natural harbours. In the
waters that once formed
the eastern port the
remains of ancient quays
are still clearly
visible. Those in the  other
two lie mainly under
water, as do most parts
of the waterfront.
Most of the buildings
that remain today date
from Roman times. Of
specialinterest are the
remains of the aqueduct,
the castle walls, the
temple of Zeus, the
small theater and a
complete, quite wide
street known as
Antonius Caravella
Street. Some historians
believe that this street
may have doubled as a
stadium. Although
historical records speak
of at least two
important athletic
events that took place
in Phaselis, no stadium
was
ever found.
Near  the
agora (town center) are
two temples. One was
dedicated to the goddess
Athena Polias, the other
to both Hesta and
Hermes. According to
legend the temple of
Athena Polias used to
own the bronze spear of
Achilles, the mythical
hero of Homer's Iliad.
A small museum exhibits
locally found artifacts.
Phaselis and its
surroundings are
eminently suited for a
special day out. Its
ancient harbors have
transformed into shallow
bays and are now lined
with sandy beaches and
pine forests. It is a
truly unique location, a
spectacular mix of
historical and natural
beauty.
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