ARSADA lies somewhat back from, and high above, the Xanthus valley, on an upland plain on the side of Akdag, the ancient Mt. Massicytus near the village of Arsa. The altitude is over 3,000 feet. There is now a road and the site is approached from the village of Kayadibi. Arsada is not mentioned by any author in antiquity, but the identity is proved by an honorific decree of the Arsadans found on the spot, and by the evident survival of the name in the village of Arsakoy close by. Just to the west of the village is a long low hill, precipitous on the west towards the valley and bearing on its east slope. about halfway up, a wall of dry rubble about 8 feet thick; a stretch of some 300 yards is preserved, but in poor condition. At its north end this wall runs up to a tower or small fort 30 feet square, constructed of large polygonal blocks carefully laid; it seems to date to the early Hellenistic age.

Of the town itself none of the buildings remain, but in and around the village are a number of Lycian tombs, mostly of “Gothic” sarcophagus type, one of which has human heads represented on each of its short sides ; but most of them are now overthrown or put to other uses!. There is at least one rock-tomb of house-type, and many sculptured and inscribed blocks are lying around. The inscriptions are almost all epitaphs. Spratt reported having noticed three imperfect Lycian inscriptions, but of these nothing has ever been seen since.

A little above the village, beside the path from the north, on an outcrop of rock about 8 feet high, is a relief representing a horse and rider. The horse is prancing to the right, the rider's right hand is raised behind him and carries an elongated object uncertain character, and he seems to have had a sword slung over his left shoulder. This looks like one of the Anatolian horseman-deities ; the best known of these is Kakasbos, who appears frequently in western and northern Lycia; but he is excluded here, since he never carries a sword but always a club and his horse always proceeds at a gentle walk. We should naturally suppose an ex-voto dedication, but there is no inscription to identify the deity. For how long this rock carving will remain visible depends on steps being taken within the village to stop the children sliding down the side.

Image from the museum at Fethiye (Telemessos)

Usual Sarcophagus tomb by the side of the road.

The local farmers have found a modern day use to store their farming implements.

Remains of earlier foundations beneath a village farm house.

A Greek stylized carving used as part of a door jamb.

This stone has now been put to use for grinding corn.

An unusual sarcophagus built on the top of a large rocky outcrop.

Reused stones in a village wall.

A sarcophagus lid thrown down prior to be reused as building material!