About Myndos
At Gümüşlük, Myndos was a Carian port protecting the western Bodrum Peninsula. Coastal walls, harbour entrances and partly submerged buildings reveal its maritime character. Tavşan Island and nearby remains also illustrate changes in the ancient shoreline.
History
An earlier Myndos is thought to have stood inland before relocation to Gümüşlük during Mausolus's fourth-century BCE urban programme. Strongly fortified, it resisted Alexander during his Halicarnassus campaign. It maintained connections with Rhodes and regional kingdoms in Hellenistic times and continued as a Roman port. Earthquakes, coastal movement and sea-level changes submerged some buildings. Excavation and underwater research examine the harbours, necropolis and settlement limits.
Highlights and principal structures
- City walls and towers
- Ancient harbour
- Tavşan Island remains
- Submerged coastal structures
- Necropolis
- Settlement terraces
Historical period
Classical–Hellenistic–Roman