An entrance gate was unearthed during archaeological excavations at the ancient city of Rhodiapolis in Kumluca, a town near the popular resort city of Antalya in southern Turkey.
Associate Professor İsa Kızgut from Akdeniz University, who heads the excavations, told the Anatolia news agency on Friday that they found the gate in the western wing of the ancient city. Kızgut added that this year’s excavations began in the ancient city on June 22 with the participation of some 60 people.
Located near the village of Sarıcasu, Rhodiapolis received its name from the Rhodians, who colonized the city. The ancient city was discovered after a forest fire in 2000. Excavations in Rhodiapolis began in 2006. The best known figure from the city was Opramoas, who lived in the period of Antoninus Pius (A.D. 138-161). He was the richest man in Lycia and a renowned philanthropist. His best known work was his own monumental tomb.
Most of the visible ruins in the ancient city dated from the Roman and Byzantine periods. The remains include a theater, bathhouse, agora/stoa, temples, church, cisterns, cenotaph, necropolises and houses. More than 60 coins were also unearthed during the excavations.
Source: Today’s Zaman [August 21, 2010]