Gagai Ancient City

Gagai (in ancient sources Gaxe) is an ancient settlement located in the southeastern corner of Lycia, within the boundaries of modern Mavikent, Kumluca district, Antalya Province. The city, known today as “Asartepe” or “Aktaş Ruins”, was built on a hill commanding the sea. It was first mentioned by Pseudo-Scylax as “Palaion Teikos” (Old Fortress).

Etimology

The name Gagai has been explained in various forms since antiquity. According to one tradition, the Rhodians named the settlement Gagai after requesting land in the area by saying “Ga-ga” (earth). However, this explanation appears mythological. Philologist O. Carruba traces the origin of the name to Anatolian languages, noting that it derives from the ancient Anatolian word “hahha” (father) and was rendered in Greek as “Gaxe”.

Eusebius describes Gagai as an “insignificant Lycian city”, while ancient sources mention a nearby lignite mine called “gagates”. This lignite deposit is believed to have contributed to the city’s economic importance.

Historical Development and Archaeological Findings

Surface surveys conducted in 2007 under the leadership of Professor Dr. Nevzat Çevik revealed that Gagai’s history extends far earlier than the Rhodian colony. Two-handled ceramic vessels found at the site date to the Early Bronze Age II period (2700–2400 BCE), representing the earliest known settlement evidence in the region. This discovery confirms the presence of settlement layers predating Rhodian colonization by centuries.

A tower constructed on the hill during the Hellenistic period formed the core of the city’s defensive system. Gagai fell under the control of Limyra during the Hellenistic era and continued to exist as a small but organized settlement during the Roman period. Spratt and Forbes report that Gagai formed a sympoliteia with Rhodiapolis and Corydalla.

Urban Structure and Architectural Elements

The remains of the city are divided into four main areas: the upper acropolis, the lower acropolis, the flat area (Roman public center), and the necropolis.

• Upper Acropolis: Planned in a rectangular layout and surrounded by Byzantine-era walls. The walls, stretching 400 meters in an east-west direction, reach heights of up to six meters in places. At the northeast corner of the acropolis, remains of a gate and a two-room Hellenistic tower are preserved. A basilica-style church dating to the 5th century indicates continued use of the area in later periods.

• Lower Acropolis: The wall remains on the hill facing the sea date to the 6th–7th centuries CE. The area contains two-story rock-cut complex structures and cave systems likely used as storage or residential spaces. Some of these caves were used as natural cold storage due to their cool internal conditions.

• Roman Public Area: The center of Gagai during the Roman period consisted of structures such as a bathhouse, theater, nymphaeum (monumental fountain), and possibly an agora.

• Necropolis: Located on the northern slope of the city, the necropolis features Roman-era rock-cut tombs, underground chamber tombs, and examples of khamosorion (stone sarcophagi). The tomb architecture reflects Roman traditions rather than the typical Lycian wooden imitation styles. Additionally, inscribed tomb altars dating from the 1st to the 3rd century CE highlight the region’s epigraphic significance.

Coinage and Artifacts

The earliest coins found at Gagai date to between 430 and 420 BCE. These coins bear the inscription “Gaxe”, documenting the early form of the city’s name. During the period of the Lycian League (2nd–1st centuries BCE), Gagai minted silver and bronze coins depicting Apollo. In the Roman period, bronze coins bearing imperial portraits of Caracalla and Gordian III were produced.