Lycia Rock Tombs

The Lycian rock tombs are monumental burial chambers carved into cliffsides across southwestern Turkey, dating primarily to the 4th century BC. Their ornate facades resemble Hellenistic temples with Ionian columns, triangular pediments, and intricate reliefs featuring mythological figures. Major concentrations are found at Dalyan (overlooking the river beside ancient Kaunos), Fethiye (the Amyntas Tomb), Myra, Xanthos, and Pinara. The Lycians believed in the immortality of the soul, designing these elevated tombs as eternal dwellings for the dead, with larger tombs reserved for rulers and officials.