Historical Bodrum By Shereena Lingiah At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

The Turkish Port of Bodrum, nestled into the Southwest corner of the Aegean region, has become a major tourist destination for anyone planning their holidays in Turkey. The temperate climate and stunning natural coastline set the stage for a diverse range of activities, and the city’s many cultural sites encourage even the casual visitor to experience a fascinating slice of history.

You’ll be in good company if you include Bodrum in the itinerary for your Turkey holidays. The Bodrum of today has risen from the site of the ancient city of Halicarnassus, which was the capital of the kingdom of Caria. Many familiar historical figures from classic Greek mythology hailed from Halicarnassus. Among others, Herodotus the ‘father of history’ was born in Halicarnassus, and Artemisia the warrior woman led the Carian fleet to war.

The Mausoleum
The Mausoleum is Bodrum’s oldest significant historical site, and is a must see destination on your Turkey holidays. It was built by Artemisia II in honour of her husband Mausollos, and overlooked the city for nearly 16 centuries before being destroyed in an earthquake. Its ruins were then further broken up to use in the construction of the nearby castle. A masterpiece of architecture, it was hailed as one of the wonders of the ancient world. Although little remains of the mausoleum today, the site pays homage to this monumental structure which in its prime stood over 50 metres high.

The Amphitheatre
Located on the Bodrum to Gumbet road, the Ancient Amphitheatre of Bodrum dates back to the time of Mausoluss in the Hellenistic age (300-30BC). It is carved out of the hillside surrounding Bodrum, providing a panoramic view of the city and beyond. With an original seating capacity of around 13000, the theatre consists of three distinct sections; the stage, the orchestra seating (in a half oval) and the audience seating. It is still possible to see inscriptions of names on some of the seating acknowledging the original patrons of the theatre. Today this remarkably well preserved site is still in use during the high season of holidays in Turkey for outdoor concerts and shows.

St Peter’s Castle
The city’s most visible monument is built over 30,000 square ft on a promontory in the Bodrum harbour. Highly visible from both land and sea, St Peter’s Castle is one of the world’s best preserved medieval monuments. Its origins go back to the Knights of St. John, who constructed the castle in the early part of the 15th century using parts of the ruined Mausoleum. It originally served as a military stronghold, and in later years saw life as a prison, but today the castle houses the Museum of Underwater Archaeology. This fascinating museum takes you on a journey through the rise and demise of the ancient mariners who met their fate on the Anatolian shores. You can see the famed ‘Glass Wreck’, as well as one of the oldest shipwrecks of the world (14th century BC) and finds from several Bronze Age Ships. The museum world renowned and serves as a major tourism draw card on a holiday to Turkey.

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