LYRBOTON KOME ARCHAEOPARK

Only recently Lyrboton Kome Ancient City saw the light again. Situated in the Kepez district on the outskirts of Antalya, the city was opened to visitors in 2018, after four years of excavations. The village was a large olive oil production centre, connected with Perge. The road nearby is called the Emperor Road and connects Perge with Döşemealtı. Unknown to most people, Lyrboton is without a doubt a place worth visiting. The discovery of Lyrboton Kome happened by chance in 2011 when government-sponsored “treasure hunters” stumbled upon the site. Following its discovery, archaeologists spent four years uncovering, excavating, and researching the area[1]. The ancient city remains under restoration and excavation work to this day.

After a short climb you arrive at the site on a large plateau

Archeopark Lyrboton Kome Ancient City is a fascinating site that shows its 2,200-year-old ruins from the Roman and Byzantine Periods. Imagine a village that once thrived as a prominent olive oil production centre, boasting over 100 olive oil workshops. In its heyday, the Ancient City of Lyrboton Kome played a pivotal role in oil exports, solidifying its reputation as a professional and comprehensive production settlement.

The remarkable journey of Lyrboton begins with the nun Arete. As the founder and owner of this settlement, Arete constructed a tower dedicated to Emperor Domitian and Artemis of Perge, laying the foundation for the olive oil organization.

With the establishment of an olive foundation, Arete’s daughter Kille and granddaughter Mouas continued to nurture the village’s production, ensuring its institutional success.

Olive Oil production building

There are remarkable much buildings still standing.

Situated close to Antalya city, but the nature still dominates the site

Alongside the renowned olive oil workshops, Arete Tower, two-storey houses, baths, churches, and more than eighty tombs await your exploration. The city’s enchanting cisterns add to its mystique. Experience slow travel in Lyrboton at its finest with our cultural Turkey journey on slowtravelguide.net.

After the discovery the researchers discovered that in the early days olive oil was not used in food but as fuel to burn candles.

The original plan with Lyrboton was to turn the site into an archaeology park, where visitors could visit the houses, churches, baths and so on. The city proves that olive oil existed in the Mediterranean region even before it did in the Aegean region.

It is not clear what the plans are for the future with the archaeology park and museum. The site looks a little deserted, used by the shepards and also locals who use it as a picnic area.

You can easely enjoy an afternoon in this beautiful site, away from the busy life in Antalya, Antalya that is only a few kilometers away.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION FOR YOUR VISIT

You can use the car for visiting the site. You are not allowed in the the park itself with the car. The last 1000m you have to (easy) climb the dirt road that goes up to the entrance of the site itself. Keep in mind that there are no shops, toilets or whatever at the site. So bring your own water when you visit. Please leave nature the same way that you found it.

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