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Emperor Neron’s lighthouse to beckon tourists after thousands of years
Emperor Neron’s lighthouse to beckon tourists after thousands of years
The restoration tender process of Patara Neron Lighthouse, which was commissioned by the Roman Emperor Neron in AD 54 as a “prestige project” in the ancient city of Patara, has been completed. (Photos: Alamy)
The lighthouse, located in the resort town of Antalya’s Kaş district, will return to its original state after 1,968 years when the project is completed.
The ancient city of Patara, having existed in the eighth century, is one of the oldest settlements of the Lycian Union and also its capital city.
In the ancient city, which is thought to cover an area of 10 square kilometers, excavations and restoration works have been conducted for many years under the direction of Professor Havva İşkan Işık. A science committee will be created to monitor the restoration process, which will cost 9 million liras ($1.28 million) within the scope of the project.
Nearly 2,600 original stones belonging to the lighthouse will be classified and the inner and outer walls of the stones will be organized in a “stone hospital” planned to be built in the area. The ruins of the lighthouse were discovered in 2005 during excavations and a relief of a 2,000-year-old dolphin depiction was unearthed on the stones of the lighthouse.
Işık had explained the details of the depiction written by the Emperor Neron on the lighthouse to Hürriyet daily. “I built this lighthouse for the sailors’ salvation,” the depiction says, according to Işık. “It is understood that the dolphin was made for good luck as it is a creature accompanying the sailors,” Işık had said.
Neron, who ruled the Roman Empire between 54-68, focused his attention mostly on diplomacy, trade and increasing the cultural capital of the empire. He ordered theaters to be held and organized athletics competitions in areas under his control.
The restoration is expected to be completed within two years, according to information obtained from the Antalya Governor’s Office’s Investment Monitoring Coordination Department. The lighthouse, nearly 26 meters high and six meters in diameter, will be rebuilt with original stones on the six-meter podium completed in the first restoration that started in 2011.
The project will be completed by landscaping the podium on an area of approximately 400 square meters. When the restoration is completed, the lighthouse will begin to shine after 1,968 years.
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