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Myths and
Legends
History and
mythology bring the shores of the Mediterranean to life. The ancient ruins and
hidden coves to the South of the Taurus Mountains are rich in legend and
folklore.
The fire-breathing monster Chimera, so the story goes, lived among the mountains
to the West of Antalya. That was until Bellerofontes, the Lydian hero, sliced
his head from his body in one blow. The fire, which rises from the ground on the
southeastern slopes of Mount Olympus today, is said to come from the mouth of
Chimera.
Another myth tells the story of Apollo, the god of the fine arts, who was one
day chasing Daphne, the beautiful but elusive object of his affections – close
to Antakya. Daphne’s feet became tree roots and her hands and arms, branches and
limbs of the laurel tree, or ‘defne’ in Turkish.
Few people may know that Santa Claus, or St Nicholas, was born in the town of
Patara in Turkey and died in Kale. Turkey’s Tarsus was also the birthplace of St
Paul.
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