KAUNOS ROYAL TOMBS

The rock tombs carved into the cliffs overlooking Dalyan distinguish Kaunos from other ancient cities. The temple-faced rock tombs, first seen in Kaunos, differ from the rock tomb facade architecture of the Urartu, Phrygian, and Lycian regions. With its unique appearance, it reflects the Hellenic temple facade architecture, thus setting it apart from other rock tomb types. On the right side of the cliffs, six temple-type tombs are carved into the rocks with the precision of a sculptor. In all their splendor, these rock tombs have been silent witnesses to the past for 2,400 years… The secret of the King's Tombs, visible from the Dalyan River, lies in the ancient belief that the higher the tomb, the closer it would be to God.