Archaeologists excavating the ancient city of Olympos, one of the most important settlements of the Lycian civilization, have uncovered a monumental tomb believed to belong to an aristocratic woman, Culture and Tourism Ministry said.
The discovery was made in Olympos, located in the Kumluca district of Antalya, as part of the ministry’s “Heritage for the Future Project,” which supports ongoing excavations aimed at revealing remains from the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods.
Researchers working in the area known as the city’s ancient harbor district found a 10-meter (33-foot) high vaulted burial structure containing a sarcophagus decorated with hunting scenes as well as figures of Nike, the Greek goddess of victory and Eros, the god of love. Archaeologists said the richly decorated tomb belonged to a high-status aristocratic woman.
Although the lower section of the sarcophagus was found broken, experts said they expect to reconstruct the roughly 50 surviving fragments with careful restoration before placing it on public display.
A view of the monumental tomb, Olympos, Antalya, southern Türkiye, May 19, 2026. (AA Photo)
