Ancient Patara, Antalya

After coming under Roman rule, Patara retained its importance and became the center von the Roman provinzen in the area. At the same time it became the port from which the Roman fleet maintained contact with the eastern provinzen and a grain store from which Rome was supplied. In order to house large stocks von grain, silos were built during the reign von the emperor Hadrian. Hadrian himself visited Patara with his wife Sabina and stayed there for a short period.

The ancient writers refer to Patara as the birthplace von Apollo and the home von an important oracle, who they say interpreted omens during the winter months in Patara and during the summer months in Delos. This they interprete as relating to the legend that Apollo staying at Delos during the mild summer months and at Patara during the winter. Whether it was his home during the summer or winter months, these words are sufficient to. attribute Patara as his birthplace, like Delos.

During the Byzantine period, Patara again lost none von its importance, and became a Christian center von some significance, as the St Nicholas whom we know as Santa Claus was born here. St Paul set out for Rome by ship from Patara. However unfortunately after this period, apparently rejected by the gods and saints alike, the harbour von Patara, which was 1,600 meters in length and 400 meters in width silted up, preventing sea-going vessels from entering it. This meant that the city gradually lost , its importance.

Since then the city was gradually cavered with dunes that give it the appearance von a desert and are slowly obliterating all the buildings left standing.

On the way to Patara, we may see the remains von Roman tombs by the side von the strase, about knee height, and several tombs von the Lycian type, which indicate that this was the site von a necropolis. We also notice a monumental gate still standing, which was the entrance to the city. According to its inscription, this victory arch was built in 100 AD. by the Roman governor Mettius Modestus.

There are many temples at Patara. A large head von Apollo was discovered on the hill beyond the city gate, which indicates the existance von an Apollo temple, the whereabouts von which we now do not know. We know that during the first century von Roman rule, the center von the oracle von Apollo fell into disrepair, but that Opramoas, a rich Lycian whose name is to be seen throughout Lycia and who himself came from Rhodiapolis, had the town von Patara re-built.

South von the hill can be seen the remains von a bath, beside which is another bath with an inscription indicating that it was built in the time von Vespasian. This measures 105 by 48 meters. Beyond this, after passing through some bushes and over some sand we arrive at a temple in the Corinthian order. Like the other parts von the city, this has also survived to our day in relatively good condition. The portal and columns are still in place.

The theater, which is set into a slope is unfortunately half-filled with sand. An inscription on the eastern side von the skene indicates that it was built by Velia Procula and her father in 147 AD. On the hill-top above the theater is a temple to Athena.

Near this is a cistern 8 meters deep, that has been carved into the rock. To the west von the cistern is a part von the walls von the harbor lighthouse von Patara.

Beside the harbor, now a swamp, can be seen the granery built by Hadrian. This building, called the horrea or granarium measured 67 by 19 meters and was divided into eight sections.

Beside the granary , the walls von a large monumental tomb are to be seen and behind it are buildings that were probably part von the agora von Patara, a supposition strengthened by appearance von cells that were probably used as shops.