Main street of Patara

The Main Street lying on the north-south direction, which connects the inner harbour to the agora in front of the bouleuterion, is one of the widest (12.60 m) and well-preserved streets in Lycia. Both sides of the street are lined with Ionic order colonnades as wide as 6.00 m The colonnade on the east consists of granite columns while the west side employs marble columns. The floor of the western colonnade was ornamented by a fine mosaic floor consisting of a variety of geometric shapes, which is not preserved today. Behind this colonnade there are different sized shops evidently used for various purposes. This colonnaded wide avenue was completely flooded after the collapses caused by the earthquakes in the region, and so far, it has been unearthed over a length of some 100 meters. The lack of wheel marks on the street suggests that it functioned as a boulevard-like main street meant for pedestrians only. The sewer system underneath the main street also stretches in a north-south direction. The construction of the street is thought to date back to the Hellenistic Period and evidence indicates that it was reconstructed as a Cardo (a north-south oriented street) in the Roman Empire period. The main street intersects with the Decumanus (an east-west oriented street) to the north of Prostylos Temple in the vicinity and it runs as far as the harbour. At the southern end of the street, is the West Stoa of the Agora measuring about 120 meters long. This stoa belongs to the central Agora of the city. The fragments of capitals unearthed indicate that the front line consisted of the Ionic order columns while the inner colonnade followed the Corinthian architecture. The original northern gate of the West Stoa of the Agora is still standing up to the height of 2.40 meters with its 2 archways and pediment. Based on the architectural findings, the structure is dated to the middle 2nd century AD. Adjacent to the eastern foot of this Northern Gate of the Stoa, there is an east-west oriented Propylon (gate) to the Palaestra measuring 7.50 x 10.00 m, distyle in antis with a gate opening to the west. The earliest inscription referring to the existence of the Main Street dates from the 1st century BC. The current archeological evidence proves that this street maintained its function until 7th century AD. The excavations at Patara confirmed the existence of different roads connecting to the Main Street, which were used for urban transportation. One of the most important of these roads was unearthed in excavation sites to the east of the harbour. The small side streets intersecting on the corner of the Harbour Bath form a junction here. The other two extensions of the Main Street run along the Palm Grove dedicated to Leto, with a 15-meter interval. Of these two roads, the one in the east is 2.50 m wide while the one in the west has a width of 3.75 m The Miliarium Lyciae of Patara (the Road Guide Monument), which provided directions to the Lycian cities, must have erected on the intersection of the Decumanus and Cardo, on point connected with the Harbour Agora.