History of Bodrum - By: SallyN

The ancient city of Bodrum, also known as Halicarnassus or Halicarnassis, is located in the Mugla Province, in the south-west region of Turkey. It has an incredibly rich past and is thought to have been founded around 1,000 BC by Dorian settlers from Greece.

Along with its historical treasures, Bodrum city boasts beautiful beaches, spectacular scenery, luxury hotels, great night life and true Turkish culture and so it’s easy to see why this European holiday destination is becoming increasingly popular with tourists.

City History:
In the 6th Century BC the city was occupied by Lydians and then by the Persians in 546 BC. In 386 BC the Persians took control of the Carian region and shortly after Mausolos, the most famous of the Carian satrapies took control of the region, where he ordered the construction of many cities, palaces, theatres and temples.

In the 11th Century, the Turks arrived for the first of several period of occupation. In the 18th Century Catherine the Great’s fleet attacked the city, however, Ataturks Republican forces expelled them.

The Castle of St. Peter:
The castle of St Peter must be the most prominent feature of Bodrum to this day. It is visible from all positions of the town, whether you are entering the town by sea or land, you cannot miss this magnificent structure.

The castle dates back to the Knights of St John of Rhodes where it remained a stronghold in the knights’ community for over a century. It was built from the stones and marble of Mausoleum when it was destroyed by an earthquake in the 14th Century. The castle has served many uses; it has been used as a military base, a prison and a public bath. Today, it is one of the world’s finest museums of underwater archaeology.

The Mausoleum:
The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus is Bodrum’s oldest historical sites and was one of the Seven Wonders of the World and should be a site definitely worth making time for whilst you’re in the area. It was designed by Greek architects Satyros and Pythis and built by Artemisia II between 353 and 350 BC in honour of her husband King Mausolos. The Mausoleum structure was as high as 50 metres and remained intact until with was destroyed by an earthquake.

The Amphitheatre:
Seating 13,000 spectators, the Amphitheatre was built during the Carian reign in the Hellenistic age (330-30 BC). The theatre is situated on the hillside and has fantastic views overlooking Bodrum city. There are three different sections of the theatre, a place for the audience, a place for an orchestra and the stage. In 1973 it became an open-air museum after excavations.

The Myndos Gate:
The Myndos Gate is situated on the west side of Bodrum and is one of the two entrances of ancient Halicarnassus. It was built by Mausolus in 364 BC has been recently restored. The gate is named after the place Myndos because it faces the ancient Myndos place (now known as Gumusluk).

The middle part of the gate is now totally destroyed but ruins from the other two parts still exist and consist of huge and heavy square stones. Some of the surviving portions of the city wall are under construction.

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Amongst the historical sites, there is also a variation of accommodation to choose from, consisting of quaint guest houses to fabulously located Bodrum hotels.

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