Turkey is an everlasting source for new discoveries. The country has such a rich past of which only few tourists seem to be aware and then only with names like Ephesos, Miletus, Priene and maybe Didyma or Halicarnassus, modern Bodrum. But there is so much more with constant new finds, some more spectacular than others.
A while ago I wrote about the amazing sarcophagus that was unearthed in the area of Milas (see: Sensational Archaeological find near Milas), and today it is the turn of Stratonikeia, roughly halfway between Milas and Muğla. Stratonikeia was part of Caria, a generally unknown kingdom although in its heydays it was ruled by nobody less than King Mausolos, the builder of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus - one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
During their seventeen months excavations, archaeologists have uncovered part of a road flanked by columns that led to the gate in the city walls. These walls are estimated to be 3,6 kilometres long and for now a stretch of 400 meter length has been exposed. It seems that the walls were restored by King Mausolos some 2,400 years ago.
A while ago I wrote about the amazing sarcophagus that was unearthed in the area of Milas (see: Sensational Archaeological find near Milas), and today it is the turn of Stratonikeia, roughly halfway between Milas and Muğla. Stratonikeia was part of Caria, a generally unknown kingdom although in its heydays it was ruled by nobody less than King Mausolos, the builder of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus - one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
During their seventeen months excavations, archaeologists have uncovered part of a road flanked by columns that led to the gate in the city walls. These walls are estimated to be 3,6 kilometres long and for now a stretch of 400 meter length has been exposed. It seems that the walls were restored by King Mausolos some 2,400 years ago.
[Photo: AA, from Today's Zaman]
Main find in the area was this huge 2,000-year-old Hellenistic bust of a king that stood one and a half meters high and is two metres wide, showing features of a bull’s head and a goddess – signs of wealth and power. Previously a chariot had been discovered as well as a 1,500 years-old Byzantine mosaic. All in all 460 artefacts, both Roman and Byzantine, have been collected by the archaeological team, and are now transferred to the nearby Museum of Muğla.
After full restoration, the wall will be accessible to visitors, and so will the Museum once the finds have been treated appropriately.
For a great overview of Stratonikeia, please refer to this link at Peter Sommer Travels.
After full restoration, the wall will be accessible to visitors, and so will the Museum once the finds have been treated appropriately.
For a great overview of Stratonikeia, please refer to this link at Peter Sommer Travels.
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