Patara symbolizes a history that goes back 5000 years. Patara was the capital of the Lycian Civilization, lived on the Mediterranean coast and had a unique culture. It is one of the most important and most critical cities of the Lycian Civilization. It is also known that as a result of the excavations and research, much ancient written information was found in the region of Patara. Patara (The Capital of Lycia), consists of communities dating back to the 2000 B.C. and known as “Lukka” in the sources. These sources were unearthed as a result of excavations and research carried out in the past years. Accordingly, many previously unknown details about the Lycian Civilization are becoming much more luminous today.
The Lycian Civilization is referred to as the Lycian Union in the written documents that came out as a result of the excavations and research. The reason for this is known to be due to the fact that Lycia consists of 23 cities. In addition, Lycia is a civilization where rulers were determined by voting within the framework of democratic laws thousands of years ago. This is thought to be one of the earliest examples of democratic voting today. Patara is a city that first hosted the Lycian Civilization and then the Roman Empire.
History of Patara, Capital of Lycia
It is possible to come across unique historical ruins in Patara, which was home to both the Lycian and Roman Empires. It is known that the Lycian capital Patara has hosted Persians, Romans, Macedonians, Turks and Byzantines for thousands of years in its history. Many findings are revealed during the excavations carried out at regular intervals in Patara, which has hosted many civilizations. According to this, it is possible to obtain new information about the history of Patara thanks to a stone-made ax found in the works carried out quite recently. The fact that the ax was made of stone can give some ideas that the city dates back to the Iron Age period.
Lycian Way in Patara
The Lycian Way, which is known by both Turkey and the world and frequently preferred by local and foreign tourists, also passes through Patara. There are cultural routes that civilizations living in the past used for many different purposes such as migration destinations, trade and transportation. These roads have been opened by the authorities in order for travelers and nature lovers to walk again. The Lycian Way also has an important place among the cultural routes mentioned. Today, the 533 km long Lycian Way starting from Antalya to Ölüdeniz passes through Patara. It is an ancient city located on the Lycian Way route in Patara.
The ancient city of Patara is a highly preferred route for people because it is located both on the historical and Lycian Way route. The Lycian Way, where tens of thousands of local and foreign tourists walk every year, is also considered a marathon. The Lycian Way, where the majority of people walk in excitement and happiness, together with the walking activities organized in certain periods, can make you feel different emotions.
Passing through the roads where different civilizations and nations walked, migrated and traded thousands of years ago is, of course, an indescribable feeling for nature enthusiasts. For this reason, there are also people who regularly take a walk on the Lycian Way and turn it into a hobby. Since the Lycian Way is also located between Ölüdeniz and Antalya, it is very close to the most important holiday destinations of Turkey. For this reason, the Lycian Way can be a unique choice for those who want to escape the scorching heat of summer. It is preferred by many people to have unforgettable experiences and to walk on the lands where history is lived. For this reason, the Lycian Way, located in the ancient city of Patara, is called one of the points that must be visited.
The Importance of Patara in History
Patara is one of the important points where both the past and the future meet. For this reason, the importance of Patara in history is among the topics that are frequently discussed. It is possible to find ruins from every civilization in Patara, which has hosted many civilizations. In addition, the first telegraph station built by the Ottoman Empire in 1906 is located in Patara. It is known that the telegraph station was built in 1906 to communicate with Tripoli. Patara is home to this and many other historical artifacts.
The lighthouse, which was built thousands of years ago in the Patara Harbor, has an important feature known to the whole world. Located in Patara Harbor, the lighthouse was built 2000 years ago and carries the title of the oldest lighthouse that has not lost its form until today. The lighthouse, which had a height of 12 meters at the time of its construction, is 4.5 meters today. The lighthouse has a distance of 500 meters from the shore due to the fact that the port was filled with sand over thousands of years. Again, the granarium, which was built 2000 years ago and used as both a theater and a grain store, is one of the important regions in Patara. This area, where the grains are stored to be sent from Anatolia to Rome, also has a 5000-person theater and a cemetery. The well-known Vespasian Bath is also located here.
