Rock-Cut Human Reliefs - Near Corycus, Turkey

As there were no car hire companies in Tasucu, we hailed a dolmus (one of the many small local buses that ply up and down the roads) and for 1.50 TL each (about 60p) got a lift to Silifke, the local big town.

Here we tracked down what appeared to be be the only car rental place in town...but they had had no cars. An English speaking real estate agent in a neighbouring office came to our rescue. He said, "you can rent my car for the weekend." We exchanged mobile telephone numbers...and that was it. No contract, nothing. He handed us the keys and said he would meet us back at his office at 09:00 Sunday morning. Total trust!

We had two days so we headed off into the Turkish mountains armed with a very sketchy map as the Turks (like the Greeks) consider detailed maps a security risk.

A Tomb Carved Into Rock at the Top Edge of the Gorge

The Devil's Glen with the Sea in the Distance

One of our objectives was about 8 Km north of the village of Kizkalezi. It is called Adamkalayar by the locals. We turned off a track and drove to the end of a rutted path until we reached the edge of Seytan Deresi  (The Devil's Glen). The place is certainly not a glen, but is a beautiful gorge running from the mountains all the way to the sea. It has sheer sides and at a guess, about 1000 feet deep.

The Human Rock Reliefs are Half Way Down...

A German friend in Finike had told us about this site where Romans had carved reliefs into the cliff walls. These are like statues, but carved from the rock into the cliff face. There are 13 in all.

Ok...? The Path Down Is Here Somewhere!

The Path Started By The Tree On Top...

Down We Go...!

Ancient Steps - No rail, and a 500 foot drop to the bottom of the gorge!

One figure is of a man reclining on a Kline (A Roman couch), another holds a bunch of grapes, another a lance and a battle axe. Some of the figures are female with loose flowing robes and veils over their heads. All are carved in fine detail.

There is one remarkable relief of a complete family. It dipicts a lady with her daughter, the husband, and the family dog. The site is unique. It is believed to be from the Hellenistic and Roman eras.

We Made It to the ledge!

There is no evidence of tombs here, just the carvings looking out over the gorge. Because of its precarious location few visitors find, never mind visit, the site and thus it remains very well preserved.

Amazing Life Size Figures Carved Into The Cliff

It appeared that archeologists had recently been working at the site and kindly left a rickety ladder that allowed us to get a closer look at some of the carvings. We could see that some had inscriptions when we were able to get closer. We think they might have been names of the individuals and their families.

Both Male and Female Figures

Cathy Explores a Hole Dug By Archeologists

A Well Cut Into The Cliff To Catch Rain Water

The pictures do not do justice to the difficulty of getting down to the rock carvings. Thankfully getting back up was slightly less daunting as you were looking up the cliff rather than down at the 500 foot drop into the gorge below. We thought they were joking when we were advised to 'take a rope'.

Archeologist Left a Ladder Behind

There Is An Inscription Below The Carving

I Think The Man Is Paying His Respects To Those Still Alive

The rock-cut human reliefs (and the climb down the wall of that gorge) are not something that we will forget for some time to come. Certainly this was one of the highlights of our stay in Tasucu.

Back to the Top...I Think This Is The Way We Came Down?