EASTERN Cemetery of Halicarnassus
Charles Newton, a British Archaeologist who excavated in the ancient city of Halicarnassus (Bodrum) in 1855, also excavated the eastern cemetery of the city, which was called Kışlalık at that time. Newton mentions the road to Milas and the cemetery spread over a large area. Information from Newton’s excavations is minimal. The Eastern Necropolis area is the area called Yokuşbaşı District today.
In the same region, Bodrum Museum excavated 51 graves during the rescue excavations and discovered Different burial customs and different types of graves, such as terracotta sarcophagi, sarcophagi with stone lids, urn burials, and vaulted chamber tombs. The eastern cemetery was used extensively from the fourth century BC to the Roman period. According to tomb finds, the welfare and wealth of the Hekatomnos period continued to decrease a little at the beginning of the Hellenistic period and dropped towards the end. Among the artifacts uncovered, There are also Kerch vases, which are quite popular from the 4th century on. Kerch vases represent the End of Attic red-figure vase production. The dating of these vessels is somewhat problematic. But it is generally thought that they were manufactured between 375-320 BC. Scenes related to women, Dionysus, Artemis, and Demeter, and Mythological subjects such as Amazons, griffins, and dragons are depicted in Kerch vases. One can see slender, tall, white-colored, and gilded figures come to the fore. These vases are named after Kerç because they were primarily found in the Crimea and Kerch Region.
In this hall, architectural pieces belonging to the temple of Apollo also catch our eye. Apollo, the city’s chief god, had a temple in this area, which used to be an island. Two inscriptions unearthed support this. Apollo is the protector of roads, streets, and houses.
In the last showcase of the hall, a Kerch Vase and a necklace, found by chance during the construction of a house, are exhibited.
In another showcase in the same hall, there is a stadium ticket, a Ringstone depicting the crouching bathing Aphrodite, and gold dress appliqués depicting a Funeral Ceremony.