The Lycian King tasked the young hero Bellerophontes with slaying the beast. Mounted on the winged horse Pegasus, Bellerophontes descended from the sky and buried the monster seven layers beneath the earth with his spear.
But the creature did not die. Its rage was so immense that flames erupting from the depths of the earth have burned ever since. Today, the mysterious light flickering from the rocks is said to be the monster's undying breath.
COULD THIS BE THE TRUE BIRTHPLACE OF THE OLYMPIC FLAME?
Few know this, but Yanartaş is said to have inspired the world-famous Olympic torch. In ancient times, athletes would light their torches from Yanartaş's eternal flames during races held to celebrate Bellerophontes' victory and run them into the city. This ritual is considered the inspiration behind the modern Olympic tradition of the eternal flame.
THE SCIENTIFIC TRUTH: WHY DO THE ROCKS BURN?
Of course, there is also a scientific explanation. Yanartaş is a natural gas source located approximately 180 meters above sea level. Gas seeps through cracks in the rocks, composed mainly of methane, ethane, and nitrogen. When this gas mix meets oxygen, it ignites.
What is most remarkable is that the flames have continued to burn from the same spots for thousands of years. In the past, sailors used the fire as a beacon; today, it attracts nature enthusiasts and mystery seekers from around the world.
VISITING YANARTAŞ: TIPS FOR TRAVELERS
To experience this mystical atmosphere up close, bring a flashlight. Yanartaş' true magic emerges after sunset, when the orange flames rising from the rocks in the pitch-black night make you feel as though you are inside a storybook.
