Myra
Myra, an ancient city located in the region of Lycia in southern Asia Minor, is renowned for its rich historical and cultural significance. Situated near the fertile plain above the Myrus River, its harbor, Andriace, was a crucial maritime point. Myra thrived from at least the fifth century BC, becoming one of the leading cities in the Lycian League under Roman influence. Throughout its history, it experienced various political shifts, notably being captured by Antiochus IV and later aligning itself with prominent Roman figures like Augustus and Tiberius.
The city is particularly famous for its well-preserved Roman theater and nearly a hundred intricately carved rock-cut tombs that reflect local architectural styles from the fourth century BC. These tombs, adorned with lifelike reliefs, offer insight into Lycian funerary practices and artistry. Myra also holds religious significance as the home of St. Nicholas, whose legendary deeds contributed to his reputation as the patron saint of children, later influencing the modern figure of Santa Claus. With its archaeological remains and historical narratives, Myra serves as a testament to the region's diverse cultural heritage and its pivotal role in ancient history.
Subject Terms
Myra
(Kale, formerly Demre or Dembre, derived from ta myra)
A city near the coast of Lycia (southern Asia Minor), situated above the west bank of the river Myrus (Demre Çayı), which lay in a fertile plain. Its harbor was at Andriace (Kocademre), three miles away. Monuments and inscriptions, including a number in the Lycian language, show that Myra was one of the most important cities of the region from at least the fifth century BC.
In 197 the Seleucid Antiochus IV Epiphanes captured Andriace. After the formation of a Lycian League under Roman auspices (168), Myra became one of its six leading communities and the capital of the district of Mount Massicytes, of which the name appears on the city's coins. In 42 Publius Cornelius Lentulus Spinther, raising funds for the cause of Brutus and Cassius against the Second Triumvirate of Antony, Octavian (the future Augustus) and Lepidus, broke the chain that closed Andriace harbor, and seized Myra's treasures of gold and silver. The city subsequently hailed Augustus (31 BC–AD 14) and Tiberius (AD 14–37) as `Benefactors and Saviors of the entire Universe.’ In AD 60 St. Paul changed ships at its port on his way to Rome. During the second century Myra enjoyed the privileged status of one of the five `Metropoleis of the Lycian Nation,’ and was the recipient of lavish monetary gifts. Its coinage, virtually limited to the reign of Gordian III (238–44), bears the head of the city-goddess Artemis Eleuthera and depicts the archaic image of that deity in her famous local temple, accompanied by a figure of winged Nike (Victory).
Early in the fourth century the Christian bishop of Myra was St. Nicolaus (Nicholas) Orphanos (or of Orphanos) from Patara (Kelemiş), renowned for miraculously saving the lives of travelers and shipwrecked sailors, and for bringing the dead back to life. He was also the protector of prisoners, and gained special fame as the children's patron, Santa Claus: deriving the name of the city from myrrha (myrrh), the Byzantine emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus (945–59) wrote of the `thrice-blessed, myrrh-breathing city of the Lycians, where the mighty Nicolaus, servant of God, spouts forth myrrh.’ Theodosius II (408–50) made Myra the capital of an independent province of Lycia.
An acropolis hill rises steeply behind the city, most of which lies buried deep beneath rubble, mud and water at the foot of the cliff. But a Roman theater to its south is well-preserved and has been recently cleared. Of outstanding importance, however, are two groups of nearly a hundred rock tombs dating from the fourth century BC, cut out of the southern and western faces of the cliff. Inscribed, in some cases, in Lycian or Greek, they copy temples and timber-built private houses with curiously detailed realism, and in many cases are adorned with life-size figured reliefs which, according to earlier travelers, were originally covered with vivid paint.
Buildings near the harbor of Andriace include a granary of Hadrian (AD 117–38) of which the front wall contains his bust (together with a head of Antoninus Pius' wife, Faustina the Elder), a relief showing the gods Pluto and Serapis, and an inscription enumerating standard weights and measures.