Saturday, January 17, 2015

Olba: City of Priest-Kings

Photos by Jack A. Waldron


Olba lies four kilometers to the east of ancient Diocaesarea (Uzuncaburc village), was "the capital of a temple state, administered by priest kings from the beginning of the 3C BC".  Pictured above (in the left of the picture) beyond the Olba information sign, is the ancient Nymphaeum (fountain), which stands at the cross-roads that lead to the ancient cities of Diocaesarea, Corycus and Seleucia.  


To the right of the Nymphaeum lies the theater (pictured below), and beyond these is the acropolis of Olba.  The small theater was under excavation when I visit, and appeared to be receiving some re-assembly work.


Many of Olba's upper city towers remain (pictured below, jutting into sky in the right of the photo), and are connected by protective walls. 


To the left and below the towers pictured above, a monumental four story high aqueduct rises above the valley floor.


The aqueduct has partially collapsed, but all of the stone blocks sit in a pile below the remaining arches, so I hope there will be an effort to rebuild this monumental structure in the near future.


The aqueduct once delivered water to the Nymphaeum in the city center (other side of the acropolis from pictured above), which provided the citizens with a fresh water source.


After passing under the aqueduct, a magnificent valley opens with many hidden treasures waiting to be unearthed (pictured below).


It's called the Devil's valley, as water only runs when it rains or when snow melts. The valley runs for 40 kilometers and ends at the sea, where the ancient city of Corycus is located.  


I passed this coastal valley when I was cycling through ancient Corycus, and I sometimes dream about hiking the valley and its 40 kilometers of wonder.


The foundations of houses and other buildings can be found along the walls of the valley (such as the one pictured above).


The valley also contains the ancient necropolis, where numerous rock face tombs and sarcophagi can be investigated.  


Pictured below, a view looking back up the valley at the aqueduct.  You can just make out the flat top of the aqueduct in the far distance, with the acropolis to the left.


As I returned to Uzucaburc, I could see in the distance across the valley the Great Mausoleum tomb.  Pictured below, the Great Mausoleum as it can be seen from the ancient theater in Uzuncaburc village, across the valley.


The Great Mausoleum tomb, built in the Doric order and surmounted by a frieze featuring metopes and triglyphs. The tomb lies across a shallow valley from Diocaesarea at 1200 meters above sea-level, and can be seen from the theater of that ancient city (see post for Diocaesarea).  


The mausoleum has a pyramidal roof and stands about 16 meters high (measured 5 meters x 5 meters x 16 meters), and was once topped with a statue of the person buried within, most likely a Hellenistic priest-king who ruled over Olba.


Entrance into the tomb is supposed to be forbidden, however, when I visited, the door was unblocked. Inhumation took place under the stone floor, but unfortunately, robbers had discovered this entrance long ago.  Below, I am sitting in the shade on the base of the tomb.


*All photos and content property of Jack A. Waldron (photos may not be used without written permission)

**Please support my work and future postings through PATREON:


Or, make a Donation through PayPal:


No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.