Antandros Ancient City

Antandros Ancient City is an ancient city located approximately 4 kilometers east of the Altınoluk town in the Edremit district of Balıkesir Province, on the slopes of Mount Ida. Positioned between Adramytteion (modern Burhaniye-Ören) and Assos (Behramkale), the city occupied a strategic military location in antiquity. According to the geographer Heinrich Kiepert, the acropolis of Antandros was situated on a hill known as Yarmataş (elevation: 215 meters), between Altınoluk and Avcılar, extending eastward.

Antandros Ancient City (Anadolu Ajansı)

Foundation and Historical Development

Although the city is traditionally dated to the 10th century BCE, surrounding settlements such as Assos suggest that the area might have been inhabited as early as the 2nd millennium BCE. Ancient authors offer varying accounts of Antandros’ origins: Alkaios referred to it as a Leleg settlement, while Demetrios of Skepsis claimed it was founded by people from Cilicia. Herodotus considered it a Pelasgian settlement, and Thucydides identified it as an Aeolian city. According to Aristotle, alternative names like Edonis and Kimmeris reflected the influence of different tribes that once dominated the region.

Political and Military History

Antandros was an important strategic target during the Achaemenid Persian Empire. Following the Ionian Revolt (499–494 BCE), it was captured by Persian general Otanes. Herodotus notes that Xerxes' army passed by Antandros during the Persian invasion of Greece. During the Peloponnesian Wars, the city changed hands multiple times and was under Athenian control for a period, during which it was obliged to pay tribute. After the failed Sicilian Expedition, the city again fell under Persian rule. From the latter half of the 4th century BCE, Antandros began minting its own coins, indicating a degree of independence. Coin production continued into the Late Roman period, from the reign of Titus to that of Elagabalus. In the Christian era, Antandros became a bishopric center.

Necropolis and Burial Traditions

The necropolis of Antandros is located about 2 kilometers west of Yarmataş Hill. It was discovered during modern construction activities, leading to salvage excavations between 1989 and 1996. Systematic archaeological excavations began in 2001 under the direction of the Balıkesir Museum, with scientific supervision by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gürcan Polat of Ege University. The necropolis was in use from the 7th to the 2nd century BCE and includes a variety of burial practices such as superimposed sarcophagi, cremation, and inhumation. The sloped terrain of the area allowed for vertical layering of tombs. Many of the grave goods recovered are now exhibited in the museums of Balıkesir and Bandırma.

Antandros Ancient City (Anadolu Ajansı)

Roman Period Remains

Systematic excavations were conducted around a Roman mosaic floor that was initially uncovered by illegal diggers. These excavations revealed a Roman villa dating to the 1st century CE, featuring floor mosaics and wall frescoes. This structure provides valuable insights into the residential layout and domestic architecture of Antandros during the Roman period.

Antandros Ancient City (Anadolu Ajansı)

Economy and Trade

According to ancient sources and numismatic evidence, Antandros played a significant role in the timber trade, particularly with wood sourced from Mount Ida, which was highly valued for shipbuilding. This highlights the city's effective use of local natural resources and its integration into broader regional trade networks.