Sensational archaeological find near Milas

Every day new archaeological discoveries are being made, either in Turkey or anywhere else in the World. Most of them never reach the news. Illegal finds immediately disappear in the obscure circuits of the black market, while legal finds are simply moved to the storehouses of the museums. But from time to time, there are exceptions, like this grave that was unearthed in the summer of 2010. 

It all started apparently with illegal diggings, but when faced with an impressive sarcophagus, the find could no longer be hushed, and the appropriate archaeological services were called in. This happened in Zeus-Karios, near Milas, only miles away from Bodrum – well, relatively speaking, of course.

 

[picture from the Hurriyet Daily News]

Mylasa, as Milas was called in antiquity, was known for its sanctuary dedicated to Zeus-Karios, a god honored by the Carians, Lydians and the Mysians alike, according to Herodotus. In later years, Strabo confirmed this brotherly sharing of the god by the Lydians and the Mysians. 

So now they found this sizable sarcophagus made as early as 390 BC for King Hecatomnos, nobody less than the father of King Mausolos – yes, the one from the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus (today’s Bodrum). Such exciting news! Archaeologists are talking about one of the most important discoveries in modern times. The find is compared to the sarcophagus of Alexander the Great from Sidon, now at the Museum in Istanbul. 

The measurements alone are more than impressive, 2.75 meters long by 1.85 meters wide – it’s enormous! This sarcophagus needs cleaning, and more analysis is required, but I can hardly wait to see it myself! Meanwhile, we have to settle for the few rare pictures, as seen on this link.