Photo: Itai · Public domain
At the top of Uzun Çarşı, a Lycian sarcophagus with lion heads; the town’s emblem.
One of Kaş’s best-loved landmarks, the Lion Tomb, known locally as Kral Mezarı (the King’s Tomb), stands at the top of bougainvillea-shaded Uzun Çarşı among boutiques and cafés. This monumental Lycian sarcophagus rests on a tall base, its lid adorned with lion heads. An ancient tomb set in the middle of everyday market life sums up the spirit of Kaş, and it is a must-see on any stroll, especially when lit at night.
The Lion Tomb is one of ancient Antiphellos’s monuments from the 4th century BC. A classic Lycian sarcophagus, it stands on a tall base containing a second burial chamber beneath the main one. A Lycian inscription is carved on the base, while the lion heads projecting from the lid were meant to guard the tomb and its owner. The monument has stood in place for centuries, and as the town grew it became part of the fabric of Kaş’s market streets.
Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen · CC BY-SA 4.0UNESCO World Heritage. Lycia’s largest city, with pillar tombs and a theatre above the river.
Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen · CC BY-SA 4.0The League’s sanctuary: temples of Leto, Apollo and Artemis beside a sacred spring.
Photo: Dosseman · CC BY-SA 4.0Hundreds of honeycomb rock tombs cut into a cliff on Mount Babadağ, with a quiet theatre.