Dörtayak is an ancientcenotaph in ancient Kelenderis, modernAydıncık ofMersin Province,Turkey
It is close to the Turkish state highwayD.400. Its distance toMersin is 170 kilometres (110 mi).
Although the building is known as a cenotaph, according to Aydıncık culture society it might also be amausoleum.[1] There are no documents about the history of the cenotaph. But judging from the architecture it is assumed to be built in the 2nd century AD during theRoman Empire.[2]
The building has a square plan as its Turkish name suggests. (Turkish nameDörtayak means "Four feet") The four wide cut-stone columns in each corner are so oriented that the four sides of the building face the cardinal directions. Presently there are no side walls. The ceiling is supported byvaults. The total height of the building is 8 metres (26 ft).[2] Its roof is pyramidal and this may indicate an Egyptian style.
CaptainFrancis Beaufort in 1812, describes this building as "it has a single arch on each side which supports a pyramidal roof of large stones and it seems to have been intended to contain a statue."[3] According toVictor Langlois, "the building with large cut stones, rises conically . The top is decorated with a beautiful cornice"[2]
36°08′55″N33°19′38″E / 36.14861°N 33.32722°E /36.14861; 33.32722
