Myndos Ancient City

Myndos is an ancient city located on the western side of the Bodrum Peninsula in present-day Gümüşlük. Mentioned in ancient sources, Myndos was founded by Mausolus in the 4th century BC. The city is enclosed by walls that begin at the ridges of Kocadağ in the west, follow the city’s eastern ridges, and terminate at Rabbit Island. It is known that wine and olive cultivation were practiced in antiquity. Myndos gained independence in 197 BC and began minting coins after this date. It remained a modest settlement throughout the Roman Empire. Today, Myndos is a fishing village surrounded by tangerine orchards.

History

The ancient city of Myndos was founded by Mausolus in the 4th century BC. It is one of the cities frequently referenced by ancient authors and is known today as Gümüşlük. The historian Herodotus mentioned the Myndosians and their ships during his time in the 5th century BC. However, scientific excavations to date have not provided detailed information about this early period. The city was surrounded by walls extending from the ridges of Kocadağ in the west to Rabbit Island.

Alexander the Great laid siege to Myndos but failed to capture it. One year after the siege, in 333 BC, the city fell to Alexander’s commanders following the defeat of the Persian commander Orontobates. In the 3rd century BC, Myndos came under Ptolemaic rule. It achieved independence in 197 BC and began issuing its own coinage. In 44 BC, Brutus and Cassius, the assassins of Julius Caesar, used Myndos as their headquarters. Myndos remained a poor city during the Roman period. Settlement continued until the end of the Byzantine era. Above-ground ruins include the remains of a Byzantine church, several sections of fortification walls, a hilltop fortification, and the remnants of a breakwater and tower in the sea. Beneath the surface, partially buried columns, traces of mosaics, and ceramic fragments have been identified. Excavations conducted by the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology uncovered Early Bronze Age necropolis areas, and the artifacts recovered are displayed in the museum.

Archaeological Studies and Remains

Since no systematic scientific excavations have been carried out in the Lelegian cities of the classical period, including Myndos, detailed information remains scarce. Not a single trace of the stadium or theater mentioned by earlier writers has survived. The above-ground remains are minimal and consist of a Byzantine church, fragments of fortification walls, the ruins of a hilltop fortification, and the remains of a breakwater and tower submerged in the sea.

Excavations on Rabbit Island revealed the remains of a church and an ayazma on the shore of Kocadağ opposite the island where it meets the sea. Excavations conducted by the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology around the city uncovered Early Bronze Age necropolis areas. Artifacts recovered from these excavations are exhibited in the museum.

Ancient Economy and Culture

In antiquity, Myndos was one of the regions known for wine production. Myndos wine was mixed with seawater and consumed, as it was believed to aid digestion—a practice also attested elsewhere in the ancient world. Written sources also confirm that olive cultivation was practiced in the region during antiquity. During the time of Mausolus, the site of Koyunbaba Mevkii near Gümüşlük served as a quarry.