Ancient harbor city discovered near Dikili, Turkey

Some excavations are carried out on sites known from antiquity, other digs get started after an accidental discovery. This is the case for the city of Atarneus situated on Turkey’s west coast. A 39-year-old diver noticed columns and column drums as he was diving off the coast of Dikili, some 120 km north of Izmir. 

[Picture from The Hurriyet Daily News]

Archaeologists examining the site concluded that said columns belonged to the ancient city of Atarneus founded by the Akalis, of whom close to nothing is known. 

Atarneus is, however, linked to Aristotle as Proxenus of Atarneus cared for the young Aristotle after his father died. While working at the Academy of Athens, Aristotle befriended a certain Hermias, who became the king of Atarneus. When the philosopher left Athens at the death of Plato, he stayed with Hermias and eventually married his daughter or niece, Pythia. 

The city reached its peak in the 4^th century BC under Hermias ruling over the area spreading from Atarneus to Assos further north. It ceased to exist in the 1^st century BC, apparently following the outbreak of some unspecified epidemic although tectonic movements cannot be excluded. 

Hopefully further excavations will be started to learn more about the city’s existence and destruction. After all, it blossomed in the days of Alexander the Great meaning that he must have known the existence of this city!