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Naturperler i Antalya regionen:
CHIMAERA - ÇIRALI |
The place northeast of the Ancient City of Olympos at an elevation of 250 m above the sea is known by Turks as "Yanartaþ/Çýralý".
The area is called Yanartaþ (Chimaera) because of the inflammable gas, which consists of a 46% hydrogen and 34% methane compound, issuing from the cracks formed as a result of the tectonic earthquakes at those places where the serpentine land and limestone rocks meet. |
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According to mythology, Bellerophon, the son of the Luwian Lord Glaucos, desires to own Pegasus, the winged horse. Athena the Goddess presents him with a golden rein and tells him that when he fastens the rein on Pegasus the horse will be his.
Bellerophon finds Pegasus and puts the rein over its head. So he starts flying and dominates the heavens. Bellerophon, who kills a much beloved friend of his by mistake, becomes very sad and starts wandering around the world .
When the hero who helps good people comes to Finike, people "wish him to kill the monster
named Chimaera, with a lion's head, a goat's body and a snake tail, that burns the villages around it with the fire coming from its mouth." Bellerophon kills Chimaera with his flying horse, but cannot extinguish the fire coming out of its mouth.
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Thus, this is the place where the Olympos torch
is fired. People organize festivities and celebrations which also lay the foundations of the olympic games in commemoration of this event.
When Bellerophon wishes to go to Idyros and drink of the immortality
water Pegasus, which is a clever animal, refuses to fly.
When Bellerophon insists it throws him off
its back. Bellerophon,
having lost his horse, becomes distant from people and wanders
about
in seclusion until his death.
The noteworthy ancient ruin in the area is the Byzantine Orthodox Basilica Complex, which contains the residencial quarters of priests, and churches. |
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The ceremonial and reception area in the south being made of large,
single piece block stones confirms the existence of the Temple
of the God of Fire here.
Continuing along the ancient road known as "Road of Fire", one big
and two more small
fires are visible. Further up, the road branches
into two, the road turning west is called the
Sacred Ceremonial Way.
15 km to the east, however, Göktaþ Tower is found at an altitude
of 800 m. |
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