Today was a day of extremes: in the first two hours on site, we had blazing sun, torrential rain, and hail! Luckily, the rain only started in earnest on our way back to the bus, but it was still a long forty-five minute hike down the hill from our first site, Oenoanda (map), a mere 1430m above sea level, to where we had abandoned the bus.
Fortunately, it did not snow on us...
Oenoanda is famous in large part for its epigraphical remains, which include a very long text by Diogenes, an epicurean philosopher, of which 6000 of perhaps an original 25000 words remain, and an inscription establishing a festival in AD 124 which is important for our understanding of Roman provincial administration. The fortification wall and aqueduct, though, are equally as impressive.
Oenoanda tower
We were, moreover, rather traumatised by Oenoanda: no Lycian tomb?! Impossible. The second site, Pinara (map), fortunately restored our faith.
Bird-nests?
Yes, those are tombs. No, we did not explore them. Looking at them, I wonder how mad Pliny the Younger's suggestion that their inhabitants were bird-men really was. We did, though, climb down a ravine to find some with some unusual, - and very worn, - city reliefs, and admire the theatre.
From the 60s?
Did spectators pay extra for shadow?
Jump? or not? Jump? or not? Jump!
At our final site, Sidyma (map), the main attraction was the array of tombs, in particular one with some unique coffering.
The coffering
To keep us company, we had a special, very curious, and hyper-energetic guest.
Jump? or not? Jump? or not? Jump!
As wonderfully often so far this trip, we were also offered tea by the local guide, - and so could admire the speed with which people nearby were weaving.
The loom
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