Kaunos ancient city, located in Dalyan District of Ortaca District of Muğla, was founded by the legendary King Kaunos. Kaunos, which was founded as a Carian city but has been subjected to many influences over time, has 3 thousand years of history with rock tombs, baths, agora, an ancient theater with a capacity of 5 thousand people and a sacred temple. The ancient city of Kaunos, on the borders of Dalyan's Çandır Village, is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of ancient city ruins belonging to the Roman period. There are many remains scattered around the area. When you go to the castle of the ancient city, you encounter a magnificent view of the entire delta and Dalyan.
Kaunos Ancient City, Dalyan The ancient city of Kaunos, located within the borders of Çandır village on the opposite side of Dalyan Creek, was a port city known for its salt production and trade in the region during the Lycian-Carian period. Kaunos, the son of Miletus, the founder of the city, who had economic power in the region in ancient times and printed money in his name. Research conducted in the region found that the first settlement was in the 10th century BC. it turns out that it dates back to the century. According to Heredotus, the father of history, the Kaunos were one of the indigenous people of Caria, but they considered themselves Cretans. After the Persians completely captured Anatolia, the city came under the rule of Mausolos. After Alexander defeated the Persians in 334 BC, the city came under the rule of Princess Ada, then Antigonos, then Ptolemaios. The kingdom of Rhodes remained under the rule of the Kingdom of Pergamon and Rome. As the port filled, it began to lose its importance. As the Port of Kaunos was filled with alluvium, the city's revenues decreased and the city lost a little more of its prosperity every day.
It was established according to the wind direction of the streets and streets of the city. Kaunos, one of the most impressive ancient cities of western Anatolia with its magnificent rock tombs and structures built with cut stones, spans a wide area.
In addition to the rock tombs in the ancient city of Kaunos, the ancient theater with a capacity of 5 thousand people, the bathhouse, the agora, the Basilica, the 1,300-year-old mosaics and the Sacred Temple of Demeter are among the artifacts that visitors can see. Especially his theater is in pretty solid condition. Kaunos is not a place where there are huge marble structures like the ancient city of Ephesus. A city that is very humble in itself, has used its own material, its own character and culture.
Legend of Kaunos
The ancient city of Kaunos was a settlement during the archaic, classical, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods. There are many legends about the foundation of the city, which was abandoned after the Byzantine period. Of the legends expressed by Roman poets and historians, The Legend of the poet Ovidius is the most frequently mentioned. According to this legend, Byblis, who is in love with Kaunos, expresses his feelings by writing a letter to Kaunos. Kaunos, on the other hand, meets Byblis ' feelings with anger and disgust. Kaunos, who does not want to see his twin again, leaves his father's country with those who love him.
He came to Kaunos and founded the city named after him. Byblis throws himself over a high rock, wanting to end his life because of his unrequited love. But the Nymphes (water nymphs) take pity on Byblis and turn him into a spring. Byblis's tears become a river, and the ages stop. Ancient sources say that Kaunos prospered due to the export of salted fish and the money he earned from ships that came and went to his safe port.
Kaunos Rock Tombs
There are no other examples of Kaunos rock tombs in terms of structure. It is impossible to find this stonework in ancient tombs anywhere today. Rock tombs 4 BC. it was made in the century, and later used in the Roman period. The facade architecture of the rock tombs carved on the southern cliffs of Mount Pisces is different from the facade architecture of the rock tombs in the Urartu, Phrygian and Lycian regions. The temple-fronted rock tombs are unique to Kaunos. Hellen Temple is very different from other rock tombs with its original appearance reflecting the facade architecture. On the right side of the cliffs, six Temple-type tombs are carved into the rocks with the fineness of a sculptor. Rock tombs are mute witnesses of the past for 2,400 years.
Kaunos Ruins Address: Dalyan Quarter, 48800 Ortaca, Muğla Phone: +90 252 614 11 50 October April October April 15 - October 2 (summer period) 08.30-19.30, October 3 – April 14 (winter period) 08.30-17.30
Where is the ancient city of Kaunos
To go to the ancient city at the borders of the village of Çandır on the banks of the Dalyan canals separating Ortaca and Köyceğiz, jump on one of the boats waiting on the banks of the dalyan River and cross over. From there, you arrive at the gate of the ancient city in a 10-minute walk.
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