rock tombs

Stone tombs, hewn around the 2nd century AD, during the period of the Roman Empire. The Lycians believed that their dead were transported to the afterlife by magical winged beings, and thus placed the tombs of their honored dead in geographically high places. These tombs are decorated with tall Roman columns and intricate inscriptions, including inscriptions of human figures, which are likely to represent the corpses inside the tombs. There are also inscriptions condemning anyone who thinks of stealing these tombs. Given the importance of this archaeological site, UNESCO has included these rock tombs as one of the World Heritage Sites.