STRATONIKEA

Located near Yatagan, Stratonikeia Is one of Caria’s oldest and best-preserved cities. The research and excavations in the area indicate that Stratonikea has an early history, going back to the Chalcolithic period. The city had several names for centuries, such as Chrysaurus, Hekatesia (the city of Goddess Hekate), and Stratonikeia. Although we have few remains of early cities, the main city completely in marble was built by one of the Seleucid Kings, Antiochus I, for his former stepmother and future wife. During the Seleucids’ rule, Syrian kings made Stratonikeia the administrative center and Lagina a religious center of Caria. A sacred road connected these two sites. A priestess carried the underworld’s key between these two locations during the Hekate festivals. 

The present-day ancient city offers outstanding monuments of antiquity and monuments of the Beyliks and Ottoman Periods. 

The tombs of the town’s famous gladiators welcome visitors to the Ancient city.

 One of the most impressive monuments of Stratonikea is the Hellenistic gymnasium of the city. This grand monument with immense dimensions is dated to the Hellenistic period, and it was one of the significant buildings for physical and theoretical Education. Visitors visit a Seljuk period mosque, a bath of the Beylik Period, and Village Square, with many shops and coffee houses dating from the Ottoman Period. 

Since the athletes did sport naked, the name of the gymnasium came from the word gynos, meaning naked. This partly excavated great complex consisted of a gymnasium, palestra for physical exercises, and baths. Unfortunately, a big part of the complex still lies under the soil. Some gymnasium rooms were identified as oil, powder, and young athletes’ rooms. The gymnasium was used to train the gladiators and Roman soldiers in martial arts during the Roman centuries. 

After the gymnasium, visitors are recommended to walk to the city’s famous North Gate. On the way to North Gate, they enjoy one of its famous columned streets. Next to the street, one can see the Latrina and the remains of a Big Roman Bath.  

With its monumental fountain, two great gates, and a nearby ceremonial square, the North Gate is one of the most attractive locations in Stratonikeia. There are remains of two main entrances to the city in this area, two demolished churches, a rectangular square, and an impressive columned street starting from the North Gate and heading for the city’s town hall. The North Gate was one of the first locations where archeological excavations started. Visitors enjoy the columned street with shops, mosaics, and a well-preserved sewage system. 

Town Hall

The town hall of Stratonikeia stands out because of its unique inscriptions. The inscriptions on the northern wall in Greek and Latin have the full text of Emperor Diocletian’s famous maximum price list, who tried to stop inflation and control the rising prices in 301 AD. So there are maximum prices for many items and services. The third century was a troublesome period for the Roman Empire: Wars, financial problems, and high inflation forced Emperor Diocletian to take measures to improve the economy and stop the high inflation rate in the Empire. Often, change in the ruling emperors also negatively affected the economy. These soldier Emperors took power quickly but were dethroned and killed easily, too.

Another exceptional feature of Bouleterion is the famous Calendar, created by its well-known citizen, orator Menippos, who designed a unique calendar for the illicit people of Statonikea. 

Bouleterion, or City Hall, has only five of its 13 rows of seats and originally had a 1500 people seating capacity. Although the building roof didn’t survive, its courtyard and main entrances remain visible. Some inscriptions on the Bouleterion indicate that the building owner during the Ottoman centuries was Ömer Aga, who also owned the nearby house. 

Huge mansions show that the Eskihisar was a prosperous and wealthy village and commerce center for nearby villages. Villagers traded with tobacco, figs, grapes, and carpets; landlords and Aga had their big houses built. Visitors see the remains of immense Roman Baths and recently excavated areas near the city’s town hall. The area between Main Street running in the east-west direction and the Roman Baths revealed exciting finds such as a Latrina, a well-preserved sarcophagus, The remains of a church, and the tombs of the Byzantine Period. 

From Roman Baths, a narrow path leads visitors to the impressive theatre of Stratonikea. Built on the hillside during the Hellenistic Period, the theatre had few alterations after the major earthquakes shook the city often. The earthquake’s fault line created significant theater damage; one can still see the earthquake’s fault line. 

Above the theatre, an attractive temple was built for imperial worshipping during Emperor Augustus’s time.