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Lyrboton Kome Ancient City

HistoricalPlace Category

City

Antalya

District

Manavgat

Description

Lyrboton Kome, located northeast of Antalya city center on the top of the mountain backed by the Varsak neighborhood of Kepez district, is an ancient settlement that existed from the Hellenistic Age until the Middle Ages. According to an inscription found in Perge, it is also known as "Elaibaris" (olive farm) and was essentially a large ancient olive oil production village. It is thought to have been inhabited during the Hellenistic period, although it has remains largely from the Roman and Byzantine periods. Although not much is known about its history and administration, it can be safely said that this settlement was a kome (village) under Perge, administered by a komarkhes from the II century AD, and was inhabited throughout the Byzantine period.

Olive oil mills, which are ubiquitous in the region, are mostly found in Lyrboton Kome. The numerous and integrated workshops indicate a high level of oil production. The Via Sebaste - Emperor's Road from Döşemealtı to Perge also passes through here. The income earned in Lyrboton Kome had a great share in the construction of the big cities on the coast, especially Perge. The arch erected by the Demetrios brothers in Perge is one of them.

The most important ruin is the olive oil protection-storage tower. The inscription of the 2-storey tower, which was endowed by Arete, whose name means "virtue", reads, "Arete, the Priestess of Demeter, built this tower with her own money and dedicated it to Emperor Domitian and the Artemis of Perge".

The most impressive inscription, showing the sustainability of production and the contribution of the family foundation, describes the olive groves endowed by Mouas, son of Kille, daughter of Arete. The inscription states that "he dedicated the farm, 600 cultivated olive trees, the Three Olive Groves and the olive groves in Kallikades Armada to his mother Kille for life, which he dedicated to Emperor Hadrian and the Apollo of Lyrbos; after his mother's death, the komorkhos (headman) was to keep the foundation alive, and a festival was to be held on the 3rd day of September in honor of Apollo. On the 3rd day of September, a festival was to be held in honor of Apollo and the people were to be fed and drunk sufficiently", while at the end of the inscription it is written that "no one is allowed to sell or dispose of the above-mentioned things or to use the income obtained for any other purpose. Otherwise, a fine of 1000 dinars will be paid to the Artemis of Perge."

Inscriptions found at Lyrboton Kome reveal that a festival associated with the olive harvest and dedicated to Apollo was celebrated on the 3rd day of the 9th month. This data emphasizes the importance of olives and olive oil for the settlement. Other traces of this production and the settlement's life are numerous cisterns, over 80 graves, preserved 2-storey houses, 1 small bathhouse, 4 churches and other buildings of uncertain function.


Short Description

Lyrboton Kome, located northeast of Antalya city center on the top of the mountain backed by the Varsak neighborhood of Kepez district, is an ancient settlement that existed from the Hellenistic Age until the Middle Ages. According to an inscription found in Perge, it is also known as "Elaibaris" (olive farm) and was essentially a large ancient olive oil production village. It is thought to have been inhabited during the Hellenistic period, although it has remains largely from the Roman and Byzantine periods. Although not much is known about its history and administration, it can be safely said that this settlement was a kome (village) under Perge, administered by a komarkhes from the II century AD, and was inhabited throughout the Byzantine period.


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