Overview:

Ancient City of Kaunos is a city in southwestern Turkey, located in the Mugla province. It was an ancient port city which has been inhabited since the 10th century BC. The city was founded by the Carians, an ancient Anatolia people, and flourished during the Lycian and Roman periods. The city was famous for its strategic location, controlling ship access from the Mediterranean Sea to the Maeander River inside Anatolia. The city was destroyed by earthquakes in 447 and 580 AD and has remained uninhabited since then. Today, the ancient city offers visitors an exquisite view of limestone and mud-brick ruins. The ruins of Kaunos still stand on the east shore of the Lake Köyceğiz. The main sites of attraction include the processional way, the agora, the harbor monuments, the necropolis, and the theater. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Turkey
Prominent Features:

The Ancient City of Kaunos is located in Mugla, a province in southwestern Turkey. This archaeological site was originally an old Carian city, which has been occupied since the 4th century BC and is now a popular tourist destination. The ruins of the city reflect its status as an important ancient port and cultural center. Its most famous attraction is the ruins of the Daedala fortress, built in the 5th century BC and overlooking the city. Other popular sights include the ancient theater, built in the 4th century BC; the Roman baths, a basilica from the 6th century AD; and ancient tombs. There is also an archaeological museum on the site, which houses many artifacts from this prehistoric site. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Turkey.

History:

Kaunos (or Caunos) is an ancient city located on the southwest coast of modern-day Turkey in the Muğla Province. It was an ancient port city of Caria and the history of the city has been divided into three periods: the pre-Persian, Persian and Hellenistic-Roman. The city was believed to have been founded in the late 11th or early 10th century BC by the Carians, an Anatolian people, who arrived from neighboring islands in vessels made from reeds. During this time, the city was surrounded by a strong stone wall and become a major trading center between the East and West. In 334 BC, Kaunos was conquered by Alexander the Great and became part of the Macedonian-ruled kingdom of Caria. In the following centuries, the city became increasingly Hellenized as many of the locals adopted Greek customs and language. Kaunos was captured and held by numerous regional and Mediterranean powers throughout its history, most notably the Persians, the Byzantine Empire, the Ottoman Turks, and the Venetians. The city was devastated by multiple earthquakes and had multiple setbacks, particularly under the rule of the Ottomans. In 1847, the city was abandoned and the area around it slowly began to become reclaimed by the neighboring forest. Today, the ruins of Kaunos are still visible and have been preserved as an archaeological site since 1958. Visit one of the famous monuments of Turkey with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. Kaunos is an ancient city near present-day Dalyan in southwestern Turkey, near the mouth of the Dalyan River where it empties into the Mediterranean Sea. 2. Kaunos was an important port city in antiquity, with its port at the head of a navigable channel through the nearby Dalyan delta, making it an important trade center. 3. The settlement at Kaunos dates back to the 10th century BC, when it was part of the kingdom of Caria, ruled from neighboring Halicarnassus (present-day Bodrum). 4. In classical antiquity, Kaunos went through several stages of decline and prosperity, under the rule of the Persians, Macedonians, and Romans. 5. In the 1st century BC, Kaunos was rebuilt by the Roman emperor Augustus, and it became a major port city in the Roman Empire. 6. During this period, Kaunos became known for its stone walls and for its amphitheater, which was used for gladiator competitions. 7. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Kaunos was largely abandoned and eventually diminished to a small village. 8. In the 19th century, Kaunos was rediscovered by modern archaeologists and is now an important tourist destination. 9. Today, Kaunos is home to the remains of a theater, a temple, an old stone harbor, and several other ancient monuments. One of the historical monuments of Turkey, it tells the story of a bygone era