Chimaera and Olympos

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since ancient times. Although barely discernible in daylight the flames are said to be visible far out to sea at night. The gases are still to be properly analyzed but are known to include methane.

Olympos was once one of the most celebrated cities of the Lycian League before falling into the hands of pirates. They continued to plague it even after the successful campaign waged against them by the Romans in 78 B.C. In the end the city simply slipped into irreversible decline. During the imperial period Olympos was widely known as a cult site dedicated to the fire god Hephaistos (with a temple to Hephaistos at Chimaera, see above). There are also references in Plutarch to ritual feasts in honor of Mithras, Persian god of light.

The remains include those of a Roman theater, a Byzantine basilica, a Roman temple, a bridge, defensive walls and chamber tombs. All are badly ruined and very overgrown; but standing in picturesque surroundings in a valley near the sea they are definitely worth a visit.