Lycian tombs, Turkey

Lycian Tombs, Turkey

visited September 2009

Ancient Lycia was a region in ancient Anatolia which is now in Southern Turkey. It became part of the Achaemenid Empire in the 6th century BCE, and was later part of the Macedonian Empire of Alexander the Great. 

The tombs left behind are quite spendid. The earliest are the tower tombs, with sarcophagi on top of a rock tower. The one below was in the middle of a town (Kas, ancient Antiphellos), and remarkably well preserved - no grafitti at all!

There are also rock cut Lycian tombs, which are a little later in date, and bring to mind the Nabatean rock cut tombs of Jordan - they really are like a mini Petra. The ones I saw, at Dalyan, were only seen from a boat due to time restraints, and a lot are hard to access. But if you have time, then I'm told there are some splendid rock cut tombs to be explored throughout the area.

An early pillar tomb, Kas

Back of the same pillar tomb

A rock cut tomb

Lycian tombs cut into the rock at Dalyan

Lycian tombs cut into the rock at Dalyan

St Mary's Churchyard, Hailsham, East Sussex

St Mary's Churchyard, Hailsham, East Sussex

Visited August 2014

Right in the centre of the market town of Hailsham is this well kept urban cemetery. Memorials date from the 18th century onwards, including some iron grave markers. These iron markers are first found in Sussex from the 17th century.

Hyde Park Pet Cemetery

Hyde Park Pet Cemetery, London

Visited spring 2011

Tucked away in a corner of Hyde Park, near Bayswater Road, and not open to the public, is a hidden gem, the Hyde Park Pet Cemetery. It is in the garden of the Victoria Gate Lodge, and was run by the then-gatekeeper. It began, almost by accident, in 1881 and burials of beloved pets continued until 1903. The first burial was of Cherry, a Maltese terrier, who had frequently been walked in the park.



Turkey - Roman necropolis at Heirapolis (Pamukkale)

Roman necropolis at Heirapolis (Pamukkale)

Visited summer 2009

Up on the cliff behind the 'frozen waterfall' of Pamukkale, is the Roman town of Heirapolis. Outside the town walls is a rather lovely, and little-visited, necropolis dating to the Hellenic, Roman and early Christian periods. There are over 1,400 stone built tombs and sarcophagi on the site.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hierapolis#Necropolis