Kaunos was a Carian port on the border of Lycia now on an inland lake 5 km from the sea near the tourist town of Dalyan.
Historical overview:
Kaunos was a Carian port on the border of Lycia now on an inland lake 5 km from the sea near the tourist town of Dalyan.
Pottery shards indicate that Kaunos existed by at least the 9th century BCE. According to tradition Caunos, the eponymous founder of Kaunos, was the son of Apollo’s son Miletos from Crete. Caunos fled his home because he was hopelessly in love with his twin sister Byblis, and founded the city of Kaunos. Byblis shared his passion and tried to follow Caunos, only to collapse in tears and be turned into a spring by water nymphs. Although this story suggests a Greek origin, the Carians were an indigenous tribe.
In 540 BCE the Persian general Harpagos conquered the region despite bitter resistance from Kaunos. After the Greek victory over Persia at the battle of Salamis in 480 BCE, Kaunos joined the Athenian dominated Delian League. In the 4th century BCE Persian rule was reestablished under the satraps Hecatomnos and his son Mausolus.
After Alexander the Great conquered the area in 334 BCE, the Seleucids, the Ptolemies, Rhodes and finally Rome ruled Kaunos in succession. In 88 BCE Kaunos supported Mithridates VI of Pontus against Rome and massacred Roman citizens. The Romans defeated Mithridates and punished Kaunos by returning the city to rule from Rhodes, which continued well in to the 1st century AD.
Kaunos was Christianized in the 4th century AD. As the Dalyan River slowly silted up, the surroundings turned to marshland and became increasingly unhealthy due to malaria.
Sightseeing:
The 150 m high Kaunos acropolis was once surrounded on three sides by the sea. To the north are remnants of 4th century BCE defensive walls (8 m high) built under Persian rule. To the north-east is a marshy plain, once the main harbor. The former western harbor, which could be blocked by a chain, is now the Suluklu Gol (Lake of Leeches). On the higher level are the remains of a substantial bath complex (58 x 28 m) and nearby stand ruins of a 6th century domed triple-nave church (14 x 14,5 m).
Down the hill from the church was a 1st century BCE temple (9,6 x 6,8 m) dedicated to Zeus, which contained a sacred stone of 3,5 m high in religious use since the 5th century BCE. The 2nd century BCE theatre to the west of the acropolis had 33 rows and could seat 5000 people. Substantial walls support the northern part of the theatre, while to the south it was built into the hillside. Below the ridge lie descending terraces including a large one of a 2nd century BCE temple dedicated to Apollo.
Further down was a 3rd century BCE stoa (94 m long) on the north edge of the agora with a row of columns in front and a wall in back. Research here revealed a cult of sailors dedicated to Aphrodite. Also were found 3rd century BCE bases for statues of Mausolus and his father Hecatomnos, who ruled the city from Halicarnassus. On the south wall of a 1st century nymphaeum dedicated to Emperor Vespasian, an inscription states that merchants could export certain items, including slaves, from Kaunos duty free.
At the far end of the agora on the right stands a 2 m high monument to the family of Quintus Vedius Capito, a priest of Zeus and host of visiting dignitaries. Toward the town of Dalyan in the steep cliffs above the channel are carved many elaborate 4th century BCE temple type tombs which appear strongly influenced by the Lycian style.
Visitor tips:
Kaunos archaeological site is open to visitors daily, in summer season (April-October) from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm, and in winter (November-March) from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The ticket costs 10 TL.
Cafés, restaurants and hotels are in Dalyan.
Getting there:
By boat: the easiest way to reach the site of Kaunos is by boat from the small harbor of Dalyan. The boat trip (about 15 minutes) leads via the channel to a small quay where one can follow a good walking path to the site where you have to buy an entrance ticket. During the boat trip you can also admire the beautiful carved temple type tombs above the channel. Best is to make an arrangement for a fixed price of the boat trip before you leave the harbor of Dalyan.
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