June 22nd, 2009 
Sheila Simkin Both Phaselis and Mt. Olympos were on the road to Antalya. Phaselis is located in the village of Tekirova and was founded in 690 BC as a colony of Rhodes. The three ports on the sea were the only source of income. Ruled in turn by Alexander, the Ptolemies of Egypt, the Kingdom of Rhodes, pirates named Zenekites, and Romans because of its good ports.
The main ruins of Phaselis are found on the two sides of the main avenue that connects the military port with the south port.
There are shop and store ruins on the sides of the street along with ruins of public places. Roman Baths, Agora’s and Theatres dating back to 2nd century BC. We spent a short time walking along the stone-paved avenue with its sewage and drainage systems underneath and visiting the Phaselis Theater.
The ancient theatre had such charm to it with grass growing between the tiers and seats, small but beautiful…View image. It dates back to the 2nd century AD and could hold about 3,000 spectators. One smart Turkish woman…View image… took the opportunity to do a little bead and handicraft selling to our captive Explore group sitting in Phaselis’ ancient theater.
Depending on Explore group’s location and timing each day, there would be different lunch options. Stopping in a local grocery store to buy whatever picnic makings each person felt like…View image, or a stop at a local restaurant for some mezes, or yummy Doner kebaps, also known as Gyros. If you’re not familiar with Doner kebaps/Gyros, lamb is usually rotated on a vertical spit opposite a heat source. The self-basting cooked meat is sliced off and usually served plain on the plate, stuffed into Turkish/pita bread or laid over diced, flat bread and topped with sauces. Any way you “slice it,” Doner kebaps/Gyros is one of our favorites.
To reach the Chimera of Mt. Olympus, we followed an earthen track through a pine forest and orange groves. Olympos was set up in the Hellenistic period and became one of the six leading cities that had the right to vote in 100 BC. The Chimera (“Flaming Rock” in Turkish) is a natural phenomena. Methane gas seeps out of the ground through crevices and vents on the bare hillside and spontaneously ignites while escaping. There are only two patches above the Temple of Hephaestus.
In Greek mythology, the Chimera was a fire breathing monster and the perpetual fire is associated with the winged horse Pegasus because Bellerophon rode him while defeating the monster.
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