The ancient city of Simena, known today as Kaleköy, is located between Kaş and Demre districts of Antalya. It is located on the peninsula opposite Kekova Island. Simena is one of the rare settlements in Turkey that can be reached from the sea.
Gulcan Acar
Although the name of the Ancient City of Simena was first mentioned by Pilinius in the 1st century AD, the history of the city dates back to the 4th century BC, as evidenced by the inscription written in Lycian script and the silver coin found in the city of Aperlai. Simena was represented by Aperlai in the Lycian union. It is known that it continued to exist as an independent city after the region joined the Roman Empire.
The first striking structure in the ruins today is the castle, which also reflects the strategic importance of the city. Simena castle was used in the Middle Ages. The city was damaged by earthquakes in ancient times and was partially submerged in water. Ladders, Lycian type sarcophagi, breakwaters and building ruins can be seen on the shore.
Gulcan Acar
There are also building ruins on the shore belonging to a Roman bath complex thought to have been built around 79 BC. The inscription of the dilapidated bathhouse reads, “Given as a gift to Emperor Titus by the people and council of Aperlai and other cities of the union.”
While reaching the castle from the beach with the help of a steep path and sometimes steps, you can see many building ruins, including sarcophagi, located next to today’s houses. It can be read from the tomb inscription that one of the sarcophagi belongs to Mentor, son of Idargus.
Gulcan Acar
When you reach the castle, the first thing you notice is the theater carved into the rock, with seven rows of seats and a capacity of approximately three hundred people. Water cisterns, rock tombs and traces of a religious building, which was first used as a temple, then a church and finally a mosque, are among the other ruins of the castle. A large necropolis area consisting of sarcophagi and rock tombs lies to the northeast of the castle. The inscription in Lycian language found in one of the domestic graves is remarkable.
Official Turkish Museums
Simena is among the “Ancient Cities of the Lycian Civilization” (2009) recommended to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Source: Antalya Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism.
Places to Visit in Antalya
Source: Antalya Provincial Culture and Tourism Directorate
