Kibyra
Kibyra
Türkiye · Burdur
In brief
Kibyra, near Gölhisar, was a city at the intersection of different regional cultures and trade routes. Excavations have uncovered large public buildings and, in particular, the decorations of the odeion.
What was found?
- 1Depiction of Medusa
This is an opus sectile pavement in the orchestra section of the odeion, made by cutting and assembling pieces of colored marble. Its fine details demonstrate the level achieved in stone craftsmanship.
- 2Mosaic in front of the odeion
An extensive mosaic pavement has been uncovered in front of the building. It documents the careful decoration of floors in public spaces as well.
- 3Stadium
This is a large structure used for sporting events and gladiatorial shows. It shows the architectural expression of mass spectatorship in the city.
- 4Reliefs from gladiator tombs
The reliefs include scenes of training, contests, and combat with animals. They are visual sources for gladiators’ lives and the ways they were commemorated.
- 5Sewers and water pipes
Sewer lines and terracotta water pipes run beneath the stone-paved streets. The drainage arrangement beneath the stadium documents engineering intended to remove rainwater.
What does it point to?
Performance buildings, decoration, and infrastructure in Kibyra together indicate a developed urban life. The Medusa pavement and gladiator reliefs show that craftspeople used different materials and narrative techniques.
What did it teach us?
- Documented the creation of the Medusa figure using cut pieces of colored marble.
- Revealed gladiatorial culture through both performance buildings and tomb reliefs.
- Showed that water drainage was planned beneath large spectator buildings.
Images



Record
- Culture
- Cabalian, Pisidian, Hellenistic and Roman
- First modern dig
- 2006
- Team / historical
- Şükrü Özüdoğru; Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University
- Coordinates
- 37.1596°, 29.4893°
Sources
Nearby excavations
- Laodicea on the Lycus 82 km
- Kaunos 86 km
- Xanthos 91 km
- Hierapolis 91 km
- Aphrodisias 91 km
- Letoon Sanctuary 94 km
- —
- —
- 12.000
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All excavation sites (395)
Türkiye
- Acemhöyük
- Aizanoi
- Alabanda
- Alacahöyük
- Amos
- Ani
- Aphrodisias
- Arslantepe Mound
- Aspendos
- Assos
- Ayanis Fortress
- Aşıklı Höyük
- Barcın Höyük
- Blaundus
- Boncuklu Höyük
- Can Hasan I
- Carchemish
- Claros Sanctuary
- Clazomenae
- Domuztepe
- Ephesus
- Euromus
- Gordion
- Göbekli Tepe
- Hadrianopolis in Paphlagonia
- Hattusha
- Hierapolis
- Iasos
- Kaman-Kalehöyük
- Karahantepe
- Karatepe-Aslantaş
- Kaunos
- Kibyra
- Knidos
- Kültepe-Kanesh
- Laodicea on the Lycus
- Letoon Sanctuary
- Limyra
- Magnesia on the Maeander
- Medieval City of Beçin
- Metropolis in Ionia
- Miletus
- Myra
- Nemrut Dağ
- Nysa on the Maeander
- Olympus in Lycia
- Oymaağaç Höyük — Nerik
- Patara
- Pergamon
- Perge
- Phaselis
- Priene
- Sagalassos
- Sanctuary of Apollo at Didyma
- Sanctuary of Labraunda
- Sapinuwa
- Sardis
- Sayburç
- Side
- Stratonikeia
- Tell Atchana – Alalakh
- Teos
- Tripolis on the Meander
- Troy
- Uluburun Shipwreck
- Xanthos
- Yenikapı – Theodosian Harbour Excavations
- Yeşilova Höyük
- Yumuktepe
- Zerzevan Castle
- Zeugma
- Zincirli Höyük — Sam'al
- Çatalhöyük
- Çavuştepe Fortress
- Çayönü
- Çukuriçi Höyük