Kaş

Located to the south of the Teke peninsula, at the tip of the bay of the same name, is the settlement of Kas,. The town has become a true centre for tourism thanks to its growing touristic potential during the recent years. The origin of the city is traced back to the "Aprillans". The Apnllans who settled in Phellos subsequently moved down to the place called Habesuwa/ Habesos as founded by the Luwis at where Kas is located today and settled in the small harbour complex. They renamed the harbour Antiphellos meaning "Opposite Phellos" in order to avoid any presumptions that it is a separate settlement from Phellos. The flourishing city declined and was abandoned in time as was the case with all other Lukka/Lyctan cities, In late 11th century Kinik Turks of Tekeogullan settled down in Kasaba and Gombe and without spoiling the original name of Antiphellos they started calling it as "Karsi" in short. This word became "Kars" and then "Kas" in time. The ancient wooden book belonging to Nefertiti is the best evidence of the relations between the Lycian coastal cities and Egypt. The city which joined the Lycian Federation in the 6th century B.C. was subsequently captured by pirates and Romans. The first ancient remains in the city are the 7 metre-tall and 500 metre-long walls of the quay made of block stones. To the north of the walls, the remains of a square temple with a 5 metre-tall stone podium attract the attention. The temple has one cella and it was used as a chapel during the Byzantine era. A theatre with 26 rows of seats is seen in the west of the city. The caveas have retained their onginal height. There is a mausoleum built in Doric style behind the theatre. The entrance appears to have been closed by a stone. A frieze, depicting 21 small women holding hands and dancing, with wind-blown skirts, is seen on the back of the stone podium on which the deceased was placed. The necropolis of the city stretches in a northwest direction. Many sarcophagi and rock tombs are seen in the necropolis.