Replicas of ancient artifacts from the Lycian civilization will be exhibited at the Lycia-Kas Underwater Art Park in Kas district of Turkey’s resort city of Antalya.
Some 658 lost and forgotten Lycian artifacts that will be presented to visitors to the art park, which will cover an area of approximately 10 decares under the sea, were carefully lowered into the water by divers.
Among the works to be exhibited underwater are the ancient columns of Patara Street, Poseidon and his horses, the Chimera and the legend of Bellerophon, and the Nereid Monument of the ancient city of Xanthos.
As part of the project carried out since 2016 in coordination with Kas municipality, the district governorship, West Mediterranean Development Agency and Chamber of Shipping, the replicas of the historical artifacts, which were determined as a result of scientific research, were made from water-resistant materials.
Moreover, underwater photographer Sukru Gursoy dived 25 times and stayed under the water for over 30 hours to photograph the moments while the replicas of the artifacts were being placed in the water.
While the divers from the diving schools in the district were placing Lycia’s lost artifacts in the water, District Governor Saban Arda Yazici and Mayor Mutlu Ulutas donned their diving suits to accompany them.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Yazici said the works were selected from the lost heritage of Lycia smuggled from the region and during the manufacturing process of the replicas, Lycian mythology was also utilized using scientific methods.
