Kas - The Shore of Ancient Phellos
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Located 15 kilometres west from your holiday base of Kalkan, Kas is another site rich in archaeological remains from several ancient civilisations including the Lycians and Romans. Kas is a fishing village which now embraces visitors from around the world, although this is also an important centre for preserving the local culture and Anatalyan village life.
Kas has become a centre for water sports, especially snorkelling and scuba diving. There are several scuba diving schools in the area, with visits to many ancient sunken ships. One of the most important underwater archaeological sites in the world is found here, the wreck of a 14th century BC Egyptian vessel.
In ancient times Kas was known as Antiphellos, meaning the shore of ancient Phellos. Phellos actually means stony place, in reference to both the rocky coastline and possibly the ancient rock carvings.
Kas is famous for its many and well preserved Lycian carved rock tombs, the symbols of the town. The most impressive of theses Lycian carvings is a sarcophagus, called the King’s Tomb or Kral Mezarý. It is located within the town on a street called Uzuncarsi Caddesi and dates from the 4th century B.C. It is carved from a single block with eight lines of undeciphered Lycian script.
One of the most important ancient Antiphellos ruins is the Amphitheatre. It was built during the Roman period of 1st century B.C, and repaired in the 2nd century A.D. It seats 4000 people on 26 levels, and uniquely is the only amphitheatre in Antalya facing the sea.
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