Blue Cruise Zones, Fethiye/Turkey

Fethiye; then named Telmessos was the most important town of Lykia which was one of the oldest Anatolian civilizations. Fethiye was located in the west of Lykia on the bordering line of Karya. There is no exact information as to when the town was founded but it is stated on the written documents that the town’s history dates back to the 5th century BC.

According to a Lykia legend, Apollo fell in love with the daughter of the King of ancient Phoenicus (Finike) and he abducts her in the form of a small dog and they name their child as Telmessos. The town Apollo founded is named after his son Telmessos.
In 547 BC the town was invaded by the Persian King Harpagos along with all other Lykia and Karya towns and it became the I. Satrapy of the Persians. Telmessos joined Ancient Delos Unity in the middle of the 5th century BC, but later it left the union and became an independent town.

Their relationship went on till the 4th century BC. Alexander the Great who went on his Asian cruise in 343-344 BC took possession of the city. Some claim that the town surrendered willingly, though. according to another legend Alexander the Great, who was on the way to conquest Anatolia, came to Telmessos Port with his navy. Their commander Nearkos asked Antipatrides, the ruler of the town for his permission so that musicians and prisoners could enter the town.

He was allowed to enter the town and the warriors with their guns hidden in flute boxes conquered the Acropolis during night celebrations. In 240 BC the town was bestowed to Lysimachos’ son by Ptolomy 3. and in 189 BC within the framework of agreements after the war of Magnasia the town was bestowed to Eumenes, the King of Pergamon by the Romans.

After the fall of Pegamon Kingship Telmessos joined the Lykia Federation in 133 BC and it was counted among the most important six towns of the federation. In the 8th century the name of the town altered as Anastasiopolis in the honor of the Byzantine Emperor Anastasios II. In 1284 Anatolian Turkish Beylik of Mentese took possession of the town and it became a part of the Ottoman Empire in 1424 and its new name became Megri which means a far city.

The town was named “Fethiye” in 1934 in commemoration of Martyr Pilot Fethi Bey. One of the most glorious examples from the Lykia Civilization is Amintas King’s Tomb seems integrated with the mountain on the slopes of which it was excavated and it is like your voluntary guide during your time journey with a history of hundreds of years.

You may reach the landing consisting of pillars in front of this Iyon style and temple-shaped tomb with the help of 4 steps. “Hermepias, the son of Amintas” is written in the middle of the left pillar and the writing dates back to the alphabet of the 4th century BC.

Above there are three frontals, one of them is broken down and below there is a detailed fresco. One enters a flat slap ceilinged tomb through a door on the four sides of which there are junctures resembling stone-carved iron nails.

Three separate stone seats dispread? on the three walls of this tomb. The two of the gravestones to be seen on the left side of the slope resemble the Amintas Gravestone; however, they are smaller than it. In and around the city it is possible to come across many other gravestones, some being cut rock type others being sarcophagus type. One of the most beautiful examples of the sarcophagus type gravestones is present on the east side of the municipal building.

This two-layered sarcophagus has a Gothic styled arched hatch, on the front side of which there are carvings which resemble wooden chords. The two sides of the hatch of this sarcophagus are decorated with war frescos. On Acropolis Hill rising behind the city, there is a medieval castle, which is believed to belong to Saint John Knights. No ruins are to be found inside the castle except for a few inscriptions carved on the walls and a few cisterns from an unknown era.

Another characteristic of the city, dating back to ancient times is the fact that it has always been famous for its oracles. The oracles that lived at this prophecy center, which was dedicated to God Apollo of mythology, had great effects on itsf history. After we leave the Port of Fethiye we move on to: Turunc Bay, Dead Sea, Gemile Island, Kalkan Port, Kas Port and Kekova...