Kiyikislak, the ancient Iasos, lies at the innermost point oft the
Gulf of Güllük north of the Bodrum peninsula,and is 18 kilometers
east of Milas. Across the water on the opposite shore Güllük can be
seen. In the further distance other villages along the coast of the
Bodrum peninsula are visible. While the peninsula is Turkey's most
popular holiday area thronged with visitors in summer, Kiyikislak
is astonishingly peaceful and tranquil. The present village only
dates from 1929. Before that, it was a Greek farm. Today it is
famous for its olive groves and cheap and abundant fish, like in
ancient days.
Iasos was formerly an island, the founders probably chose it for
its protected natural harbour. Excavations of the Carian city Iasos
by a team of Italian archaeologists have revealed that the earliest
settlement dates back to the Early Bronce Age. Many artefacts and
sculptures can be seen in Izmir, Milas und Bodrum museums, and
there are some objects and inscriptions made of the local purple
marble in a Roman mausoleum referred to locally as the Balik Pazari
(Fish Market). Other buildings in the ancient city date from
various periods.
The walls, which are the first structure to strike the eye, are
thought to date from the Hellenistic period. As well as three
temples of Zeus Megistos, Apollo und Artemis. There are numerous
Roman buildings, including an agora, theatre aqueducts, cisterns,
gymnasium, baths and a bouleuterion. In the sea is an ancient
harbour wall and watch towers. One of the two watch towers or
lighthouses has been restored and can be reached by walking along
the stones of the harbour wall that rises above the sea's surface.
When the city was still inhabited, a chain used to be stretched
across the entrance to the harbour between the two towers to
prevent attack by sea.
In recent years fish farming has become widespread in the area
and like in ancient days the abundance of fresh fish in Kiyikislak
is one of its main attractions. Every day people come here from the
opposite shore just to by fish and a meal at one of the fish
restaurants on the seashore here is delightful.
AN IASSAN ANECDOTE FROM STRABO
Then one comes to lassos, which lies on an island close to the
mainland. lt has a harbor; and the people gain most of their
livelihood trom the sea, for the sea here is well supplied with
fish, but the soil of the country is rather poor. lndeed, people
fabricate stories ot this kind in regard to lassos: When a
citharoede was giving a recital, the people all listened for a
time, but when the bell that announced the sale of fish rang, they
all left hirn and went away to the fish market, except one man who
was hard of hearing. The citharoede, therefore, went up to him and
said: "Sir, I am grateful to you for the honor you have done me and
for your love of music, for all the others except you went away the
moment they heard the sound of the bell." And the man said, "What's
that you say? Has the bell already rung?" And when the citharoede
said, "Yes," the man said, "Fare thee well," and himself arose and
went away.