Myra Ancient City, which is located in today's Demre district center and its vicinity, was established on the plain of the same name. The city was connected to the sea with the canal to the west of the Myros River (Demre Stream). Sea transportation and trade of the region was also carried out from Andriake (Çayağzı) Port, which is located on the other side of the channel. The Ancient City of Myra is especially famous for the Lycian Period rock tombs, the Roman Period theater and the Byzantine Period Saint Nicholas Church (Santa Claus).
Rock tombs, Lycian inscriptions and coins, Myra at least BC. They show that it has existed since the 5th century. According to the information given by Strabo, Myra, one of the six largest cities of the Lycian Union, is called Myrrh in Lycian inscriptions.
BUSINESS. The 2nd century is the period when Myra witnessed a great development. In the city, which is the Metropolis of the Lycian Union, many buildings were built and repaired with the help of the Lycian rich people. In the Byzantine Period, Myra became one of the leading cities in terms of religion as well as administration. His fame that has survived until today, St. Nicholas (Santa Claus) İ.S. He owes it to being the bishop of the city in the 4th century, and to becoming a saint after his death and building a church in his name.
Since the 7th century, Myra lost its importance due to the earthquake, floods, the alluviums brought by the Demre Stream and the Arab raids and turned into a village identity in the 12th century. Today's ruins are the theater on the southern skirt of the acropolis and the rock tombs on both sides. According to the researches, apart from the Roman Period walls, which are quite intact today, it is possible to see the Hellenistic city walls, which are dated to the 5th century BC, on the acropolis hill and its vicinity. Located on the southern skirt of the acropolis, the theater reflects the characteristics of a well-preserved Roman Period theater, with both seating rows and stage building. The stage building stands up to the half of the second floor. There are relief or flat rock tombs on both sides of the theater.
The relief tomb, which depicts the dead and their relatives, is one of the most interesting examples in the Myra tombs, which are the best examples of the wooden house architecture of the Lycians. In addition, many rock tombs with reliefs or inscriptions are placed on top of each other or side by side on the south facing side of the rock. On the way to the city center near the theater, the ruins of the baths on the left of the road constitute early and interesting examples of Roman Period brick architecture.
The water need of the city was met by channels carved into the rock on the edge of the valley where the Demre Stream flows. The fact that Myra, which is one of the six cities with three voting rights in the Lycian Confederation, is named as "the brightest city" shows how important it is. In addition to the coins of the Lycian Confederation of Myra, it is of special importance that Artemis, the mother goddess of the city, was represented in the form of Kybele, the oldest goddess of Anatolia. BUSINESS. In the 5th century, Myra, the capital of the Lycian state, was built on St. Being the city where Paul and his friends visit has a special importance in Christianity.
