IASSOS ÖRENYERİvisitor guide.

Iasos was established upon a peninsula surrounded by the sea on three sides within Kıyıkışlacık Village, 28 km from Milas. According to mythology, it was founded by settlers arriving from Argos and derived its name from Iasos, leader of the colonists. There is no information regarding Iasos in ancient texts until the 5th century BC. While the site where the city stood was originally an island, the isthmus connecting it to the mainland later silted up, turning it into a peninsula. Major monuments of the ancient city are located on this peninsula. The monumental fortification wall, aqueducts, tombs, and the structure known as the Fish Market are situated outside the fortification walls. Excavations conducted at Iasos determined that the earliest human settlement dates back to the end of the 3rd millennium BC. A musician visiting the city once gave a recital in the theater. When the bell rang signaling the opening of the fish market, everyone bolted from their seats and rushed out of the theater except an elderly man cupping his hand to his ear. Approaching the old man, the musician said, 'I owe you immense gratitude for the respect you showed me and my art; for all other listeners bolted when the bell rang.' 'What?' shouted the old man upon hearing this, 'Did you say the bell rang?' 'Yes, why?' 'Then by your leave, sir...' and he vanished. Strabo recounts this tale to emphasize the passion for fish among the people of Iasos, who could not reap rich harvest from their barren soil. When Alexander besieged Miletus in 334 BC, Iasos donated a warship to the Persian fleet trying to relieve the city. A decade later in Ecbatana, an Iasian named Gorgos served as commander of Alexander's armoury. Another Iasian who captured Alexander's attention was a boy blessed with the curious fate of being loved by a dolphin. In Iasos, it was customary for boys to bathe in the sea after exercising in the gymnasium. A dolphin approaching the shore would take one boy on its back, carry him into deep water, and safely return him to the beach. Hearing this legend, Alexander reportedly summoned the youth to Babylon and appointed him priest of sea god Poseidon. The people of Iasos were so captivated by this legend that they depicted a boy swimming with his arm around a dolphin on silver coins minted in the 3rd century BC. Systematic excavations have been conducted at Iasos since 1960 by the Italian Archaeological Mission. The Roman-period agora, enclosed by porticoes on four sides, is entered through an arched portal. Southwest of the agora stands the bouleuterion. DOWNLOAD MUSEUM BROCHURE NEARBY MUSEUMS BEÇİN CASTLE AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE EUROMOS ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE GÜMÜŞKESEN MONUMENT HERACLEA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE DAMLIBOĞAZ ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE LABRAUNDA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE