The Place Where Kybele Became Artemis The story of Myra begins with the embossed tombs of Myra, which was the capital of the Lycian Civilisation for a while, and extends to Andriake Harbour, where it meets the sea. This location is also known as the place where the Goddess Cybele became Artemis. It Was Also The Capital Myra, located between Kaş and Finike, was renowned throughout the Middle Ages due to the bishopric of St. Nicholas. As one of the six important cities of the Lycian Confederation with three voting rights, it was named after the Myros River (Demre Stream) where it was founded. The city's water needs were met by a canal system carved into the rocks on the edge of Demre. Myra was a city that owed its existence to the Demre Stream. However, over time, the stream deposited alluvium which ultimately led to the city's decline, a fate shared by many ancient cities. After being captured in 809, at the end of the Arab raids that lasted from the 7th to the 9th century A.D., Myra lost its importance. Its heyday was between 408-450 AD during the reign of Theodosius II. During this period, it became the capital of Lycia and gained prominence in trade by extending to the sea with the port city of Andriake in the Çayağzı region. The Graves In Necropolis Are Worth Seeing Among the coins of the Lycian Confederation, those minted in the name of Myra have been discovered. The inhabitants of Myra, also known as 'the place of the Great Mother Goddess', worshipped the mother goddess Artemis. On the coins, Artemis is depicted in the form of Cybele, the oldest goddess of Anatolia. The ancient theatre of the city, built on the rock tombs above, extends downwards. The reliefs on the tombs on both sides and in the river necropolis are noteworthy. This theatre, dating back to the Roman period, is one of the few ancient theatres that have survived to the present day. While You Are Here The “Birds Paradise”, located between Çayağzı Harbour and Andriake Ancient City, is a must-see place with its meander view and 149 different bird species. The sulphurous waters at the point where the meander creating a feeding area for birds, also have the feature of healing.

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