Oenoanda
Encyclopedia
Oenoanda in the upper valley of the River Xanthus
, was the most southerly of the tetrapolis
led by Cibyra in the Hellenistic Period
, which was dissolved by L. Licinius Murena
in 84 BCE, whereupon Oenoanda became part of the koinon of Lycia, as its inscriptions abundantly demonstrate. The early history of the settlement is obscure, in spite of an exploratory survey carried out, with permission of the Turkish authorities, by B.I.A.A. in 1974-76.
The site was first noted by Hoskyns and Forbes, in 1841, and published in the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society, xii (1843). It is noted for the philosophical inscription by the Epicurean, Diogenes of Oenoanda
, and recovered in scattered fragments, apparently from the stoa
, which it cannot be assumed he erected himself. The stoa of Diogenes was dismantled in the second half of the third century CE to make room for a defensive wall; previously the site had been undefended.
Oenoanda was replaced in stages by the medieval village now represented by Incealiler, which partly overlies the ancient site.
Evidence for an ancient Roman
Bridge at Oinoanda
has surfaced in the 1990s.
New archaeological work is being conducted at the site by the Deutsches Archäologisches Institut.
Xanthus
Xanthus may refer to:In Greek mythology:*Divine**Xanthus, the gods' name for Scamander, the great river of Troy and its patron god**Xanthus, one of the twelve sons of Pan who were allied with Dionysus*Human...
, was the most southerly of the tetrapolis
Tetrapolis
Tetrapolis may mean different things:*Tetrapolis , a district comprising four cities in ancient Attica, Greece*Tetrapolis , a group of four cities in ancient Doris, Greece...
led by Cibyra in the Hellenistic Period
Hellenistic period
The Hellenistic period or Hellenistic era describes the time which followed the conquests of Alexander the Great. It was so named by the historian J. G. Droysen. During this time, Greek cultural influence and power was at its zenith in Europe and Asia...
, which was dissolved by L. Licinius Murena
Murena
Murena is a name used by a Roman plebeian family from Lanuvium belonging to the gens Licinia. It is supposed to be derived from the fondness of a family member for lampreys ....
in 84 BCE, whereupon Oenoanda became part of the koinon of Lycia, as its inscriptions abundantly demonstrate. The early history of the settlement is obscure, in spite of an exploratory survey carried out, with permission of the Turkish authorities, by B.I.A.A. in 1974-76.
The site was first noted by Hoskyns and Forbes, in 1841, and published in the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society, xii (1843). It is noted for the philosophical inscription by the Epicurean, Diogenes of Oenoanda
Diogenes of Oenoanda
Diogenes of Oenoanda was an Epicurean Greek from the 2nd century AD who carved a summary of the philosophy of Epicurus onto a portico wall in the ancient city of Oenoanda in Lycia . The surviving fragments of the wall, which originally extended about 80 meters, form an important source of...
, and recovered in scattered fragments, apparently from the stoa
Stoa
Stoa in Ancient Greek architecture; covered walkways or porticos, commonly for public usage. Early stoae were open at the entrance with columns, usually of the Doric order, lining the side of the building; they created a safe, enveloping, protective atmosphere.Later examples were built as two...
, which it cannot be assumed he erected himself. The stoa of Diogenes was dismantled in the second half of the third century CE to make room for a defensive wall; previously the site had been undefended.
Oenoanda was replaced in stages by the medieval village now represented by Incealiler, which partly overlies the ancient site.
Evidence for an ancient Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
Bridge at Oinoanda
Bridge at Oinoanda
The Bridge at Oinoanda , or Bridge of Kemerarası, is an Ottoman arch bridge over the river Xanthos close to the Lycian town Oinoanda, Turkey...
has surfaced in the 1990s.
New archaeological work is being conducted at the site by the Deutsches Archäologisches Institut.