Olympos – Çıralı

The path, which arrives at the coast in the coastal settlement of Olympus, follows the Çıralı coast and forks into two routes, namely the western and eastern routes. The path following the eastern route runs near the sea at a low level, skirts around the bays and continues towards the Phaselis archaeological settlement.

The path that goes west ascends to high levels towards Ulupınar and Beycik and continues at a high level towards north in the direction of Tahtalı Mountain. There are facilities that will meet essential needs such as food, shopping and accommodation in both Olympus and Çıralı within the section.

CHIMAERA (YANARTAŞ)

Chimaera, which is located at the north of the ancient city of Olympus, on the northeastern slope of Çatal Mountain, is the most tangible proof of the legend and architecture mankind has created against the fires of methane gas which have gone on without being extinguished for thousands of years.

The legend for Chimaera, which is called “the eternal fires of Lycia”, was first narrated by Homer as the story of the combat between Bellerophon and the monstrous creature Chimera. According to the legend of “Yanartaş” or “the eternal fires of Lycia”, Chimaera, which was born from the union of underground creatures Typhon and Echidna, was spitting fire even while drawing its last breath after fighting Bellerophon upon Pegasus. Chimaera is actually a natural phenomenon that occurs due to combustion of methane gas which rises from underground. In the ancient period, the vicinity of this fire was used as the center of a prominent Hephaestus cult.

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According to the Greek mythology, when Hephaestus was born, Zeus threw him out of Mount Olympus since he looked ugly. Due to his ugliness and lameness Hephaestus was scorned by the other gods as well. Thus, he escaped from the ground and the sky and settled in under volcanoes, where he took to the profession of forging.