About Daskyleion
Near Lake Manyas, Daskyleion was the administrative centre of the Persian satrapy of Hellespontine Phrygia. Palace terraces, seal impressions, inscriptions and varied finds show Anatolian, Persian, Phrygian and Greek traditions meeting in an administrative setting.
History
Settlement extends back to the Bronze Age. In the sixth century BCE, Daskyleion became a Persian provincial capital in western Anatolia. Satraps managed the straits, taxation and military campaigns from here. After Alexander, it came under Hellenistic kingdoms and retained some regional importance in Roman times. Natural resources around the lake supported the palace economy. Excavations investigate administrative buildings, cult areas and multilingual documents.
Highlights and principal structures
- Satrapal palace terraces
- Lake-side cult area
- Persian seal impressions
- Phrygian and Aramaic inscriptions
- City walls
- Necropolis
Historical period
Phrygian–Persian–Hellenistic–Roman