|
|
| BODRUM |
 |
Homer's description of Bodrum as "The
land of eternal blue" and the words of another resident
of Bodrum, Cevat Şakir, who said "The heavenly bliss of
life in Bodrum is better than any eternal bliss that may
await us" were not without foundation in reality.
Throughout history Bodrum, known as Halicarnassos in
ancient times, has always been fought over and people
have been unwilling to share its beauty with others. |
|
Built on a peninsula formed by the meeting of the eastern and
western harbors, Bodrum, with its narrow streets winding down to
the sea, is famous for its castle, its world-renowned yachts,
its shipyards and the dazzling white houses and tombs lining the
shores of its two harbors.
Bodrum has all the facilities to meet the expectations of
tourists from all income levels ranging from the rich yacht
owners to the penny counting tourists who just want a reasonable
room to make his vacation last all summer.
History
Bodrum has been the cradle of several civilizations. Down
through the ages it has suffered from the countless invasions of
those coming from the Aegean islands and has been important to
all those powers wishing to dominate the
Aegean.Halicarnassos(Bodrum) was an important city in the Caria
civilization which was located between its much more powerful
neighbors Lykia and Ionia. The region boasts such greats as the
historian Heredotus, history's first woman admiral Artemisia I,
and the just-as-skilled Artemisia II as well as artists like
Leachares and Shepas.
Bodrum experienced the dominance of various civilizations
throughout the history such as Persians,Mecedonians,Roman Empire
and Byzantines. Byzantines lost their power in Anatolian region
after they were defeated by the Seljuk Ruler Alpaslan at
Malazgirt in 1071. Rhodian knights had constructed the present
Bodrum castle and established theirrule over the region. Sultan
Süleyman the Magnificent on his military expedition to Rhodes
conquered Bodrum together with Rhodes and added them to the
territory of Ottoman Empire. |
|
|
