The ancient city of Assos is located within the boundaries of Behramkale Village, in the Ayvacık district of Çanakkale province. The city was founded in the 7th century BC by Aeolian migrants from the island of Lesbos (Midilli). Recent archaeological research indicates that the settlement dates back to the Bronze Age. Assos was established on a volcanic rocky hill, 234 meters high, overlooking the Aegean Sea on the southern coast of the Troad region. In the construction of the city's main structures, andesite—a type of stone that is abundant in the area and highly durable—was used.
Assos - Türkiye Kültür Portalı
History
Archaic and Classical Period (7th–5th Century BC)
Definitive information about the early history of Assos is limited. However, Homer’s Iliad mentions some settlements in the Troad Region, and it is believed that Assos existed during this period. Strabo refers to the Leleges as the region's first inhabitants. It is stated that the Leleges settled in and around Assos and engaged in maritime activities.
In 560 BC, Assos came under the control of the Lydian Kingdom and became one of the most powerful cities in the Troad Region during this time. The city's proximity to mineral resources and trade routes played an important role in its economic development. However, after the Lydian Kingdom was conquered by the Persians in 546 BC, Assos was incorporated into the Persian Empire and governed as a satrapy (province) during this period.
Persian Rule and the Struggle for Independence (5th–4th Century BC)
In the 5th century BC, Assos remained under Persian control. However, in 365 BC, the banker Euboulos took control of Assos and the neighboring city of Atarneus, declaring the city's independence. After Euboulos’ death, governance passed to his student and former slave Hermias.
Hermias, one of Plato's students, sought to transform Assos into an intellectual center. To this end, he invited Aristotle to Assos, where the philosopher resided for three years between 347 and 345 BC, engaging in philosophical studies. However, the Persians later captured and killed Hermias, bringing Assos back under their control.
Hellenistic Period (4th–1st Century BC)
In 334 BC, after Alexander the Great defeated the Persians at the Battle of Granicus, Assos came under Macedonian rule. During this period, Hellenistic culture became more influential in the city, and major construction activities took place. Following Alexander’s death, Assos was incorporated into the Seleucid Kingdom. Shortly after, it came under the control of the Kingdom of Pergamon and became a significant center among the Hellenistic cities of Western Anatolia.
In 133 BC, King Attalus III of Pergamon bequeathed his kingdom to the Roman Empire, and Assos became part of Roman territory.
Roman Period (1st Century BC – 3rd Century AD)
Under Roman rule, Assos continued to develop economically and culturally. As an important port city within the Roman provincial system, it became a key hub in the region's trade networks.
During this time, andesite sarcophagi produced in the city became one of its most important commercial products. These sarcophagi, found in excavations at Assos, were known as “flesh-eating sarcophagi” due to their ability to rapidly decompose organic material placed inside them.
Various construction projects were carried out in Assos during the Roman Period, including the expansion of the agora and the construction of public spaces such as the theater and the stoa.
Byzantine Period and Christianity (4th–7th Century AD)
With the spread of Christianity, Assos became one of the early Christian centers. It is known that Saint Paul visited the city. During this period, a basilica-style church was built in the city.
From the 7th century AD onwards, the region came under threat from Arab raids. The importance of Assos as a center on trade routes gradually diminished, and the city began to lose population. During this process, it was largely abandoned and lost its former significance in the Byzantine period.
Seljuk and Ottoman Period (11th–20th Century AD)
In 1080 AD, Seljuk Sultan Süleyman I conquered the Troad Region and incorporated Assos into Seljuk territory. However, during the First Crusade, the region was recaptured by the Byzantines and remained under their control for a time.
At the beginning of the 14th century, the city came under Ottoman control and began to be known as Behramkale. The Ottoman Sultan Murad I commissioned the construction of the Hüdavendigar Mosque on the acropolis. The Hüdavendigar Bridge from the Ottoman period is also among the surviving structures.
Present Condition and Excavations
The first excavations at the ancient city of Assos were carried out between 1881 and 1883 by the American Institute of Archaeology. Led by J.T. Clarke and F.H. Bacon, these excavations uncovered structures such as the Temple of Athena, the agora, and the theater. Some of the artifacts discovered during this period were given to the Ottoman State, while others were taken by the American excavation team.
In 1981, excavations were resumed by Prof. Dr. Ümit Serdaroğlu from Istanbul University and continued until his death in 2005. Since 2006, the excavations have been led by Prof. Dr. Nurettin Arslan from Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University.
In 2017, the ancient city of Assos was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.
Today, restoration and excavation efforts continue to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of Assos. Notable structures in the city include the Temple of Athena, the Hellenistic-period theater, the agora, the necropolis, and the Ottoman-era Hüdavendigar Mosque.
Architectural Structures and Archaeological Findings
The ancient city of Assos was built on a high rocky hill and is surrounded by fortification walls approximately 3,200 meters in length. It has two main entrances, located to the east and west.
Temple of Athena
Situated at the highest point of the acropolis, the Temple of Athena is the most significant structure in the city. Built in the 6th century BC, it is notable for being the first and only Archaic-period Doric temple in Anatolia. The friezes of the temple depict mythological scenes and animal combats. Some parts of the temple were given in 1838 by Sultan Mahmud II to the French archaeologist Raoul-Rochette and were taken to the Louvre Museum.
Agora, Gymnasium, and Stoa
The agora was built on terraces on the southern slopes of the acropolis. A two-story stoa lies to the north of the agora, and a four-story stoa stands on its southern side. The stoa was rebuilt during the Roman period. The gymnasium is located to the east of the agora.
Theater
The Theater of Assos is situated on a slope facing the sea on the southern side of the city. Dating to the Roman period, the theater had a seating capacity of approximately 5,000 people and was also used during the Hellenistic period.
Bouleuterion (City Council Building)
Located to the east of the agora, the bouleuterion was the venue for the city’s political decision-making.
Necropolis (Cemetery Area)
The Necropolis of Assos lies along the roads extending beyond the city’s eastern and western gates. Numerous sarcophagi and funerary monuments have been uncovered during archaeological excavations. Assos was known for its sarcophagus production in the Roman period. Made from andesite stone, these sarcophagi were referred to as “flesh-eating” due to their ability to rapidly decompose organic material placed inside them.
Hüdavendigar Mosque and Ottoman Structures
During the Ottoman period, the Hüdavendigar Mosque was commissioned by Sultan Murad I and is located at the northern corner of the acropolis. It has a single dome and a square plan. The Hüdavendigar Bridge, which crosses the Tuzla Stream, also dates to the Ottoman period and is still in use today.
Hüdavendigar Mosque - Türkiye Kültür Portalı
Today, Assos stands out for its archaeological and touristic significance and continues to exist as one of the rare ancient cities that has preserved the historical fabric of the region, together with the village of Behramkale.
