The ancient city, located in the village of Elikesik, twelve kilometers northwest of Alanya, is within the borders of the Pamphylia Region. It is known as “Sinekkalesi” among the people. Ancient geographer Strabon tells that the timber used in shipbuilding was obtained from the city, that cedar trees were especially abundant, and that Antony even gave this region as a gift to Cleopatra. It is understood from both the inscriptions and the ruins that the city was inhabited from the Hellenistic period to the end of the Byzantine period. It is known that the city lived as a small, not rich, community affiliated with Coracesium between 100 and 200 AD.
The inscriptions are mostly honorary inscriptions bearing the names of the major families that lived in Hamaxia. In very few of them, the buildings in the city are mentioned. According to the inscriptions, the Hermes and Serapis cult area, the tower thought to be Hellenistic, two exedra (small buildings arranged in a semicircle) to the west of it, another exedra in the north of the city, a bath, large and small tomb structures in the necropolis area and city walls are the surviving ruins of the city.
The city walls surrounding the city have been preserved, especially in the north and west directions. In addition to the small and large tomb structures in the necropolis area located in the western and northern directions outside the city wall, a significant part of the ostotheques (ash boxes) scattered throughout the land are exhibited in the Alanya Museum.
Source: “Hamaxia”, Antalya from Past to Today [II. Volume], Antalya Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism (2012)
Places to Visit in Antalya
Source: Antalya Provincial Culture and Tourism Directorate
