Rock Tombs (Kaunos)

As in other ancient cities, Kaunos has a large cemetery outside the settlement. Different types of tombs stand out in the cemetery area, which is located towards the view. In fact, there are dozens of royal tombs carved into the rocks in Dalyan and its vicinity.

The most striking of these are the monumental rock tombs belonging to kings and nobles. Rock tombs carved into high rocks have become the symbol of Dalyan today.

The reason why the tombs are Lycian type rock tombs is that the region is close to the Caria-Lycian border. Except for Anatolia, no rock tombs of this type have been found anywhere. Especially, in the ancient cities in the Lycian Region, it is easy to come across with the most outstanding examples of rock tombs. In Caunos, it is a region rich in Lycian type rock tombs. Rock tombs in Dalyan BC. It was built in the 4th century, and later used in the Roman Period. Some pottery and pottery were found in the rock tombs. In the Rock Tomb, a 6 square meter room is entered through the door behind the columns. In addition, the perimeter of the room was opened like a tunnel in the mountain. In other words, you can walk around the mountain from outside the room. However, it has been forbidden to climb rock tombs for the last few years.
Inside the tombs are three stone beds on which the dead were laid. There are two Ionian columns on the façade, frieze and pediments on the columns. There are lion reliefs on one of the pediments.