Newsletters
Built into a hillside on the southern slope of the ancient acropolis, the theater of Antiphellos is the best-preserved structure of the city and stands out for its unique orientation toward the sea.
Unlike other ancient theaters across Anatolia, this one was designed to face the water, offering a rare and dramatic view of the Mediterranean. Carved from local limestone during the Hellenistic period, it could accommodate around 3,000 spectators and was built without a permanent stone stage building (skene), which was typical of its era.
Restored in 2008, the Antiphellos Theater remains open to the public free of charge and has become a popular vantage point for watching the sunset. Its stepped seating area, or cavea, is divided into three sections by four vertical stairways and does not include a horizontal walkway (diazoma), another sign of its early architectural style.
Now part of Türkiye’s Kas district on the Mediterranean coast, Antiphellos was once known in the Lycian language as Habesos or Habesa. The city later took on the name Antiphellos, meaning “place opposite the rocky area” or “across from Phellos.” Originally serving as the harbor of the inland city of Phellos to the north, it played a crucial role in regional trade from as early as the sixth century B.C.
By the Hellenistic era, commercial activities had intensified in Antiphellos, while Phellos declined. This shift helped Antiphellos flourish, eventually transforming it into a prominent port under the Roman Empire.
Although the city was granted only a single vote in the Lycian League from the mid-second century B.C., it still stood out for its coinage, minting both for its own use and on behalf of the League.
Antiphellos also features several rock-cut tombs, a Hellenistic temple and burial monuments, many of which remain intact today. Northeast of the theater lies a chamber tomb carved directly into the bedrock, adorned with twenty-four female reliefs on its facade. The style of the figures and decorations dates the tomb to the fourth century B.C.
Within the local marketplace stands another significant monument—an elaborately preserved tomb with lion-head projections and an inscription in the Lycian language, also dating from the fourth century B.C. Its Gothic-style pediment and distinctive form have made it a symbol of modern-day Kas.
Further uphill, on the northeastern edge of Kas, visitors can spot several more rock tombs featuring Gothic architectural elements and Lycian inscriptions, reinforcing the area’s deep-rooted cultural and historical importance.
Antiphellos is located within the modern district of Kas, in Antalya Province on Türkiye’s southwestern coast. The town is accessible by road from major cities such as Antalya and Mugla. From Antalya, it takes approximately three hours by car along the scenic D400 coastal highway. Regular intercity buses also operate between Antalya and Kas, offering a convenient alternative for travelers without private transport.
For international visitors, the nearest airports are Dalaman Airport and Antalya Airport. Dalaman is closer, at about 150 kilometers away, and offers both domestic and seasonal international flights. From either airport, travelers can reach Kas by rental car, shuttle services, or connecting buses. Once in Kas, the ancient ruins of Antiphellos, including the theater and tombs, are within walking distance from the town center.
4 min read
