Myra, Ancient Greek: Mύρα, was a city of great historical and cultural value right in the middle of Lycium. Originally established on the banks of the Myros River (now Demre çay), Myra flourished on the rich alluvial plain tucked between the Aegean Sea and the formidable Massikytos mountain range. Originally an indigenous Lycian colony, the city progressively absorbed Hellenistic elements by the third century BC. Under whom Myra developed as a major center of trade and religion, the wars of the Diadochi saw Myra swing between the dominions of the Ptolemies, Seleucids, and finally the Romans.

Under Roman rule, the city stayed until the Middle Ages when it gave in to the Seljuk Turks and then the Ottomans. Kale first settled near ancient Myra under Ottoman control; later on, it was renamed Demre in 2005.

Rock-Cut Tombs in Myra

The most remarkable remnant of Myra is her finely sculpted, precisely cut tombs out of the sheer cliff walls. Classed as the River Necropolis and the Ocean Necropolis, these Lycian necropoleis have frontages like Ionic temples. Among these, the Lion’s Tomb—also known as the Painted Tomb—stands out because it formerly featured vibrant colors of red, yellow, and blue. Remnants of their original hue were still evident when 19th-century adventurer Charles Fellows came into these graves in 1840, offering a rare look at their former magnificence.

Along with their respect of Zeus, Athena, and Tyche, the Lycian people considered Artemis Eleutheria as their main divinity. Pliny the Elder reported of a holy spring of Apollo at Myra whereby fish would surface to convey oracular announcements when summoned twice by a pipe.

Andriake: The Harbor of Myra

Andriake served as Myra’s vibrant port, supporting trade and maritime operations. Sanding made the port useless over time. The granary (horrea) of Emperor Hadrian, evidence of Roman technical mastery, is among its most surviving buildings. Since 2009, excavations have unearthed a wealth of relics that lead to the museum of Lycian Civilizations’ founding within the granary. Restored buildings in Andriake include a large cistern, market plaza, agora, synagogue, Also intriguing vestiges of Myra’s maritime past are a 16-meter-long Roman-era boat and a crane.

Myra in the New Testament

The Acts of the Apostles tells how Paul the Apostle and his friend Luke changed ships in Myra during their journey from Caesarea to Rome for Paul’s trial. Reinforcing Myra’s importance as a major transit center in antiquity, the Roman centurion in charge of Paul’s transportation obtained a seaworthy vessel from the city’s harbor.

Ecclesiastical Prominence

The Acta Pauli notes Myra had a sizable Christian community as early as the 2nd century. When Lycium became a separate Roman province with Myra as its metropolitan see, the city earned ecclesiastical importance in 325 AD. Attending the First Council of Nicaea, Saint Nicholas, best known bishop, confirmed the city’s importance in early Christian theology. Historical records also document several more bishops of Myra, including Petrus, a fervent supporter of the Council of Chalcedon, and Theodorus, an iconoclast who later changed his mind at the Second Council of Nicaea in 787. Though its urban area had been diminished by the 10th century, Myra’s religious center remained a major hub.

The Roman Catholic Church notes Myra as a titular see today, therefore honoring her in ecclesiastical history.

Arab and Turkic Invasions

Myra endured successive invasions, beginning with its sacking by Abbasid forces in 809. The city briefly reverted to Roman control before falling to the Seljuk Turks in the late 11th century. During this tumultuous period, seafarers from Bari opportunistically seized the relics of Saint Nicholas, transporting them to Italy, where they remain enshrined in the Basilica of Saint Nicholas.

Although Myra experienced a brief resurgence under the Komnenian emperors, it ultimately succumbed to decline following the Fourth Crusade.

Church of St. Nicholas

Originally built in the sixth century, the Church of St. Nicholas was greatly enlarged starting in the eighth century. Later constructed in the 11th century, a monastery emphasizes its ongoing religious significance. Russian Emperor Alexander II bought the site in 1863 and started, although inadequate, restoration activities. The Greek-Turkish population swap finally drove the church to be deserted in 1923.

The church has beautiful elements including an opus sectile marble floor and faint frescoes despite centuries of neglect. Once held within, Saint Nicholas’s crypt was defaced during relic removal. Still, repair projects go on; in 2007 the Turkish Ministry of Culture approved the start of liturgical services inside its premises.

Archaeological Discoveries

Through contemporary digs, Myra’s hidden relics have gradually surfaced. Ground-penetuating radar found underground anomalies in 2009, which resulted in the discovery of a surprisingly intact 13th-century chapel. Its most remarkable aspect is a cross-shaped window that, when lit by sunlight, marks the altar.

Archaeologists from Akdeniz University found a cache of 2,200-year-old clay figures bearing artist names in 2021. Reflecting Myra’s Hellenistic creative traditions, these vivid sculptures show people, gods, and animals. Further evidence of the city’s cultural vitality comes from excavations exposing pottery, bronze, and silver objects from its theater.