Beautiful Arycanda

The '-anda' in Arycanda suggests that the city was of considerable antiquity. Many pre-Greek settlements have 'ss' (like Sagalassos and Termessos) or 'anda' in their names. During the 2nd century BC Arycanda became part of the Lycian League and issued its own coins. In 43 AD, it became part of the Roman province of Lycia-Pamphylia.



Next to the splendid theater, you can find a stadium and an intimate odeum. The odeum is shown above. It dates from the 2nd century AD. This was once - I learn from varies sources - a rich decorated building. Walls, orchestra and seats were covered with colored marble. A block in the Antalya Archeological Museum bears a portrait of Hadrian.

More pictures of Arycanda can be seen here!

In 1999, I visited Arycanda, nearby the village Arif. The theater, as shown above, is of an amazing beauty. Dated to the 2nd century AD, it was constructed in the Greek manner, ie. larger than a semicircle. There is no diazoma. The 20 rows of seats are divided into seven cunei. The well preserved Doric style stage-building dates from the Roman period.