Andriake

Andriake is the ancient harbor complex associated with the Lycian city of Myra in southwestern Anatolia, in what is today the Demre district of Antalya Province, Turkey. It functioned as the principal port for Myra and the wider Lycian League during Hellenistic and Roman times, serving as a commercial and provisioning hub on Mediterranean trade routes.

The archaeological remains at Andriake include evidence of a substantial harbor infrastructure, with quays and breakwaters, and a monumental granary that formed the centerpiece of the site’s storage facilities. The Great Granary and related buildings reflect the scale of provisioning for the city and its hinterland, and they illustrate the integration of storage, administration, and maritime activity in Lycian-Roman port planning. Other remnants indicate urban activity around the harbor, including domestic and workshop spaces, as well as artefacts such as amphorae and ceramics recovered from the area.

Historically, Andriake played a key role in the exchange networks connecting Lycia with the Aegean world and inland regions. Grain and other goods stored in the harbor’s facilities could be shipped to residents of Myra and transmitted further along Roman imperial supply lines. The site thus sheds light on the economic and logistical aspects of coastal Lycia under Hellenistic and Roman rule.

Today, Andriake is an archaeological site open to visitors and studied by Turkish and international researchers. It is commonly visited in conjunction with nearby Myra and other Lycian ruins, offering insight into ancient Lycian port life and maritime infrastructure.