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ARCHAEOLOGICAL
KNOWLODGE ABOUT CAUNOS |
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(From
book of "KAUNOS" by Hengirmen)
ACROPOL
The
inner fortress which contains the most important
structures and temples is called acropol. Acropols
were generally built on high hills where the
defence is easier.
The
fortress in Kaunos is on a high hill. From this
hill you can view the whole of the antique city,
Dalyan, İztuzu coast, the town of Dalyan, the
whole of the canal which extends between the
Mediteranean like a blue line, fields, gardens,
forrests which look like a paradise.
The
eastern and the southern sides of the fortress is
a steep abyss descending into the canal. That’s
why it is only possible to reach the fortress from
a path at the side of the antique theatre in the
west.
The
double ramparts which surround the fortress were
built in the 5th century BC. From the
walls, embrasure and merlons we understand that
the fortress was restored in the middle age.
THEATRE
As
in every antique habitation there is a theatre in
Kaunos. The theatre draws the attention with its
settlement and architectural style.
It’s
in the west of Acropol. It’s composed of 3
sections; scene, orchestra and cavena (seats).
Some of the cavenas are rested on the slope. The
remaining cavenas are supported by vaults. The
theatre overlooks the harbour and the city.
Judging from the architectural structure, we can
understand that the theatre witnessed 3 different
eras. In 150 BC some of the cavenas, in 50 AD the
remaining cavenas and some part of the stage, and
in 150-200 AD the remaining part of the stage were
built. Cavenas are in 9 rows and of 33 seats.
Today
except for the stage and some of the cavenas, the
theatre is in good condition. The orchestra
section is covered with soil. The theatre is of
medium-size.
CHURCH
At
the right-hand side of the path leading to the
theatre, a nice church stands. The researchers
claim that there are two churches in this region.
That’s why, the one which is next to the theatre
is called the grand church. Existance of churches
in Kaunos shows that formerly Christians lived
here.
The
church is estimated to have been built in the 5th
century or later. It’s composed of one entrance
and three sections. The entrance is in the west,
the sacred direction is in the east.
The tombs and the old buildings which
surround the church were cleaned and the structure
of the church came into sight.
ROMAN BATH
This
bath is in the best condition among others in
Anatolia. The bath consisted of an undressing
section, cold water, warm water, hot water
sections, creaming section, heating system and a
swimming pool.
These
sections which became ruins in the course of time
are now being restored. The most beautiful part of
the bath is the southern part which consist of
many windows. From these windows it’s possible
to view the city and the harbour.
PALESTRA
In
the east of the bath a sports school extends
towards the church. Wrestlings were held here and
training for all sorts of sports was given here.
The sports school which covers a large area is not
available today.
TEMPLES AND TEMENOS
During
the antique era there were multi-god religions.
People who lived in this area believed in Zeus,
Aphrodite, Artemis and Apollon. In some antique
cities people chose a god or goddess that would
protect their city. In an inscription which was
found in Kaunos, the names of Apollon, Posedion,
Artemis and Aphrodite are mentioned. Heredotos
said that the people of Kaunos worshipped their
own gods and not foreign gods.
Archaeologists
found six temples in Kaunos. Four of them belong
to the Roman Period, two of them belong to the
Hellenistic Period.
AGORA
AND STOA
At
the end of the road, in the west of the fountain
and to the parallel direction of the trade harbour
there is an agora and stoa. In this area there are
statues and pedestals.
At
the back of the stoa which belongs to the
Hellenistic Period there’s a sacred temple on an
unnatural slope. It was built in the 2nd
century BC. It’s 97 meters and has a stone
ground. Some inscriptions were found around the
temple.
NYMEHEUM
It’s
in the east of stoa and is known with the name of
Roman Emperor, Vespasian (69-79). In the south of
the monumental fountain there is an inscription.
Emperor Vespasian and some records related to the
customs are mentioned in this inscription.
The
inscription is considered an important written
document because it contains some information
about trade in that period.
S TORE
HOUSE
It’s
situated on a road descending into the harbour
from the theatre.
It
has two stores and it’s not so big. Storehouses
which were built for the purpose of storing
various goods, are available at different
locations of the city. It’s thought that there
are some other storehouses on the coast of Kaunos.
HARBOUR AND CUSTOMS
The
harbour which is known as Şülüklü Lake now,
played an important role for Kaunos to be a
commercial city.
The
harbour which was very deep was protective and a
closed type of harbour. Trade ships were able to
enter the harbour easily. Today the harbour has
turned to a semi marsh. According to Strabon, once
upon a time the entrance of the harbour was closed
by a chain. On the monumental fountain there is an
inscription which contains some regulations and
information about the customs. The inscription was
read and evaluated.
There’s
also remnants of a breakwater in the harbour.
THOLOS
This
structure is believed to have been built for a
hero named Tholos. It’s in the south of the
harbour and nearby the city ramparts. Since it’s
full with water, it’s diffic
ult to make research.
CITY
RAMPARTS AND DOORS
Apart
from the ramparts that surround Acropol, there are
also ramparts surrounding the city. The ramparts
extend through Balıklar Mountain in the south and
southeast, through the smaal fortres in the north
and northwest, through Çömlekçi Hill in the
west and through the region that overlooks the
town of Dalyan in the south. It was built during
the antique era but restored in different periods.
The height of the ramparts is a few metres at some
points. The remnants of the doors inside the
ramparts are visible.
COMLEKCI HILL
It’s
in the west of the city, opposite the small
fortress. It’s claimed that the area between the
small fortress and Çömlekçi Hill of the trade
harbour was closed by a chain. There are tombs,
ramparts, west fortress en west door around the
hill. The fortress and the ramparts must belong to
the 3rd century.
SMALL
FORTRESS
It’s
in the southwest of the harbour. There’s a
rampart connection between Acropol and the
fortress. There’s a door inside the city
ramparts. The rampart wall is polygonal typ
e.
NECROPOL
Like
in other antique cities, there is a big cemetry
outside the settlement area in Kaunos. Various
tombs, which overlook the view, attract the
attention. The most striking ones are the
monumental rock tombs which belonged to kings and
loyal personalities. The stone tombs which were
made by carving the high stones are the landmark
of Dalyan.
Some
ceramic crockeries and other things found in these
stone tombs show that the tombs may belong to the
IV th century BC. The tombs look like Likya type
tombs. The reason of this is the region nearby the
Karya-Likya border. We can’t see such stone
tombs anywhere except Anatolia.
Especially,
we can see the most distinguished stone tombs of
the antique cities in the Likya region. In Kaunos
which is between Karya and Likya we see Likya type
stone tombs. It’s possible to see the most
resembling stone tombs in Telmessos (Fethiye). The
tombs which look like small temples were built on
slopes and it’s difficult to reach them. The
tombs overlook the river.
The
tombs in Kaunos have great similarities with the
other tombs around Telmessos and the monumental
stone tombs are believed to belong to King
Amnythas in the 4th century. These
tombs are on a slope in Telmessos.
BATTLE
HARBOUR AND DOCKYARD
Historical
documents claim that there were a battle harbour
and a dockyard near the Dalyan river of the
antique city. The harbour was in the north of
Acropolis. Now, it’s completely full with water.
HOUSES
During
the archaeological excavations, at the back of the
stoa some house remnants which belong to the early
Byzantium Period, were found. The housing area is
estimated to extend through south and west from
the sacred temple.
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