Page 110 - Sarpedon’dan Keykubad’a Bir Zamanlar Antalya

Ruler of Monarchs Kherei

This is what Kherei, the great ruler of Xanthos, had carved
on the Inscribed Pillar Monument in Xanthos. He glorified himself
and his descendants. However, these words were only a short
part of what he went on say. Before he died, he had the legendary
tomb erected decorated with Lycian inscriptions on all four sides.
Dying had always been just the beginning for Xanthian rulers.
Because; in these lands, immortality would come to them after
death. The deceased rulers were deified in these lands. Just like
their ancestor Sarpedon. So just being a ruler was not enough,
it was necessary to be a strong commander like him in order to
become a god. No matter what war, the ruler should be the com-
mander-in-chief of his army. He had to achieve great success,
take down a large number of enemies and add land to his lands.
Finally, of course, he should have died gloriously. Just like his
ancestor Sarpedon.
“Here, the son of Harpagos, Kherei, with his arm strength,
prevailed over all the young Lycians of his time,
captured many acropolises with the help of Athena,
who besieged the cities, and distributed a share of the
kingdom to their relatives. On top of all this,
the immortals gave him he reward he deserved”…
In fact, these were not enough to become a god. The ruler had
to have a monumental tomb built for himself before he died. He
should have decorated his tomb with statues depicting himself
on it and reliefs describing his heroism, carved by the famous art-
ists of his time. There must have been a temenos wall surround-
ing his tomb, as was the case around the tombs of the gods he
worshiped. Finally, there was one more thing. His tomb should be
more magnificent and monumental than the tombs of the rulers
before him. I mean, the graves of his father, uncle and brother.

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