Bodrum:
Bodrum is an attractive Aegean coastal town with very distinctive whitewashed houses. It is situated on the southwest coast of Turkey and is a very popular resort particularly during the summer months when people from all over the world flood into this extremely pretty town which was once the capital city of the Carian civilisation. Bodrum is not only the site of one of the Seven Wonders of the World; the monumental tomb of Maussollos "The Mausoleum", it is also the home town of the father of history "Herodotus" and later in the 15th century AD it was to be the home of the Knights of St John where they constructed their Castle which presently accommodates The Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology. The town of Bodrum was founded on the ancient town of Halicarnassus. Archaeological evidence proves that the area has been inhabited for over 5,000 years. The region was invaded throughout the centuries by many civilisations. In the "Iliad" Homer mentions that the Carians were the inhabitants of Anatolia and allies of the Trojans during the Trojan War. According to Strabo Halicarnassus was founded by Anthes son of Poseidon. The first settlement in Halicarnassus was on the rocky Island where the castle stands today. During antiquity Halicarnassus was a member of the six-city Dorian league called the Hexapolis. Around 468 BC Halicarnassus took part in the Ionian revolution. In the 4th century BC the area came under Persian rule and Halicarnassus was given to the Hekatomnos dynasty settled in Mylasa. During the reign of Maussollos in 377-353BC Halicarnassus was made the capital city of Caria. Halicarnassus was later to be ruled by the Roman, Byzantine and finally the Ottoman Empires. Presently, Bodrum is one of the prettiest coastal towns of the Turkish Republic.
PLACES TO VISIT:

The Mausoleum:
One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the mausoleum once stood at the centre of the ancient Halicarnassus. This magnificent monumental tomb was constructed in the 4th century B.C. by Artemisia in honour of her husband-brother Maussollos. The original dimensions are estimated to be 32x38 m and rising to a height of 55m. Vitrivius stated that the most talented sculptors of the 4th century worked on this monument. The monument was intact through to the 14th century when it was unfortunately destroyed by an earthquake. Later in the 15th century the Knights of Rhodes dismantled ashlars, statues and friezes from the monument and used them in the construction of their castle in Bodrum. In the 19th century C.T. Newton took the remains of the Mausoleum to the British Museum where they can still be seen. Presently, the mausoleum is being excavated by a team of Turkish and Danish archaeologists.

The Antique Theatre:
The antique theatre is the only monumental structure from Classical Age Halikarnassus to reach our day intact. It was constructed leaning on the slope of Goktepe Hill bearing a spectacular view of Bodrum Town. Dating from the reign of Maussollos (400 BC) the theatre is one of the oldest known theatres in Anatolia. The theatre is 110 metres wide and has a capacity of 13,000. It consists of three sections; the Skene(stage), the Orchestra(half oval area) and the Cavea(audience seating). As a result of corrosion, this magnificent theatre was buried under earth coming down from the hill. It is presently being excavated and restored by a team of Turkish archaeologists.

 

 

The Myndos Gate:
The monumental Myndos Gate was constructed in the 4th century BC. The gateway faces Gumusluk town (Ancient Myndos) and consisted of two towers one of which has reached our day almost in its original form measuring 7x8.5 metres.

 

 

 

The Castle:
The Bodrum Castle was built by the Knights of St. John between the years 1406-1522. It stands on a rocky peninsula that is situated between two harbours and is connected to the mainland on the northern side. The castle covers an area of 180-185 metres and its highest point is the French Tower with a height of 47.5 metres. Within the castle structure there are also English, Italian, German and Spanish Towers. Presently the castle is home to The Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology, which is unique in Turkey and one of the largest in the world. The towers and various other buildings in the castle have been transformed into Exhibition Halls, thus bringing life to the castle. The courtyards of the castle are adorned with flowers, trees and birds making it an extremely pleasant environment for a day trip.