KEKOVA ISLAND

The island that gives its name to the area is in front of the village of Kaleköy and it is accessible by boat. It is a long and narrow island measuring 7.4 km long by 500 metres wide, at its section closest to the shore. The deepest point between the island and the shore is 104 metres.

The island is covered with maquis and red pine trees are found at certain places. Wild olive trees are the most abundant vegetation on the island where there is also a spring. Daily boat tours to the island start from Demre and Kaş. The origin of the city’s name is Luwian/Etruscan. It was “Khawakuwa” in the Luwian/Etruscan language and meant “land of sheep/bull”. As a matter of fact, the word “Khawa” passed, through phonetic variations, to English as “cow” and to German as “Kuh” meaning the same in these languages. Based on this information, it is assumed that a “bull/sheep” cult existed in Kekowa and that it was a shelter and sacred reproduction place for animals such as sheep, bulls and cows, which were considered sacred. Indeed, the Turkomans who came to the area in the 11th century settled on the shore across the island and preserved this tradition up to this day taking their herds to the island every year. Furthermore, the name Kekova can be meaningfully read in its old Gök=Kök Turk writing. Accordingly, Kekova means “Ingögova / mavigökova” (sky blue plain). The remains of the settlement with the same name as the island are seen on the northern side which faces the mainland. The island sank a few metres during an earthquake in antiquity. The remains of buildings seen under the sea, along the northern shore of the island, confirm this. Following the earthquake, the survivors moved to the sister cities of Simena and Teimiussa on the shore across the island. As one approaches by boat the side of the island of Kekova which faces the mainland, one sees the harbour walls, shops, sidewalks and stone steps of the Sunken City under the sea. Half-sunken houses are also seen. The remnants of the apse of a Byzantine church, built in the 5th century A.D. by Orthodox missionaries to spread Christianity in Lycia, of square plan and embellished with frescoes are seen on the shore of the Bay of Tersane. SİMENA / ÜÇAĞIZ KALEKÖY The ancient city of Simena is located on the peninsula right across the island of Kekova. Today, the small fishing village of Kale is situated among the ruins of Simena. The village of Üçağız, also accessible overland, is 20 kms to the south of the Demre – Kaş highway. Boat tours are organized to here from Demre/Çayağzı and Kaş. The fish restaurants along the shore serve to boat and yacht tourists. Kallipos is a hero among the founders of the city Simena. The name of Simena appears to be a phonetic variation of “Soamawana” which means “land of the Great Mother” in the Luwian/ Etruscan language. In one of his books, Stephanos, a Byzantine historian, refers to Simena as Somena. The history of the city dates back to around 3000 B.C. Following the Trojan War in the 12th century B.C., many Gallipolians who had sided with the Trojan King Hector, appear to have settled in Soamawana. Later, the city joined the Lycian Federation and minted its first coin in the 4th century B.C. Following the earthquake during which the city of Kekova sank into the sea, the population of Simena increased due to the influx of surviving Kekovans and the city expanded beyond the fortress. For a certain period of time, Simena was ruled by pirates. During the Roman era, Simena remained an independent city and preserved its Luwian/Etruscan culture and language. During the 9th century, triggered by an earthquake and the increasing draught, it began to decline. The most prominent structure in the area is the fortress surrounding the acropolis. The fortress is built by using the octagonal and polygonal wall techniques. The pointed arches of the towers of the fortress are an architectural feature of the Etruscan/Thracian tribe. The walls were repaired during the Byzantine era and the Middle Ages. The main entrance gate of the fortress is rectangular and it is constructed of regularly cut blocks of stone. There are cisterns within the fortress. In addition, there is a small theatre with a seating capacity of 400 and consisting of 8 rows of cavea. The orchestra has earthen floor and the structure behind the orchestra suggests that a small wooden room served as a changing room for performers. This was the smallest theatre in the Lycian region. It may be associated with the male population staying away from home for long periods of time; because they were sailors or fishermen, they did not need a large theatre. Outside the city walls, overlooking the sea, there is the stoa of the temple of Poseidon. Down towards the shore, the remains of the bathhouse of rectangular plan stand out among the other ruins. The walls of the structure were built using the polygonal wall technique and according to an inscription, it was presented to Emperor Titus. Remains of houses are seen scattered in the area. There are more than twenty house-like tombs and they are all carved into rock in the form of doors and windows. Their façades bear inscriptions in the Lycian stating facts about the deceased. Sarcophagi are carved out of rock.