New inscriptions from the Settlement on Belen Tepesi at Gülmez Dağı in Central Lycia

Abstract

The settlement of Belen has not been investigated since the brief notice made by J. Borchhardt in 1975 until last year, although there are significant archaeological remains and it is situated at an important geographical position between Myra and Limyra. Some new archaeological and epigraphic finds, one, a funerary inscription, the others, fragmentary inscriptions, were found in the settlement of Belen Tepesi during our survey concerning the research pertaining to the Stadiasmus Patarensis Project conducted by Akdeniz University. In this paper the set-tlement and its unknown ancient name, the road system, the extent of its territory and its eco-nomic structure are discussed together with the new finds and some new observations are made concerning the settlement and its surroundings. In consequence, this paper proposes Belen Tepesi was inhabited in the Classical period contrary to what had been previously as-sumed, that it was a Hellenistic–Roman settlement. Plenion is suggested for the name of the settlement at Belen, an important village mentioned in the Vita of Nicholas of Holy Sion. Based on the road system in the mountainous area of Bonda, it is proposed that the territory of Belen included a large area from the west slope of the hill to the Claudian road on Bonda. And finally this paper suggests the main economic resource, of those settled at Belen Tepesi would primarily have been shipping and trade, rather than the agricultural production.

Keywords

• belen
• belos/bellos
• plenion
• antik yollar
• stadiasmus patarensis
• belen hill
• belos/bellos
• antik yollar