Bodrum – Halicarnassus

Halicarnassus was founded at the beginning of the 1st millennium BC. by Dorów, who emigrated from the Peloponnese. Initially, the city was bound by an alliance with the other five Doric cities, but it soon succumbed to the supremacy of the Ionian cities, located in the north. Halicarnassus became more important during the reign of Mausolus, Karia's satraps in the years 377 – 352 p.n.e. He moved the capital of his country from My forests (Milas) just to the captured Halicarnassus, which thus became the political and cultural center of Kari i. Mausolos resettled the inhabitants of the surrounding villages to the city, thus increasing its population, surrounded with massive walls (long over 5 km) and built many wonderful buildings in the city, including. several temples, theater or agora. It was then that work on the tomb began, which he was the originator of. After the death of Mausolus, his widow – Artemisia – completed the building known today as the Mausoleum, which name has permanently entered the canon of architecture as a term for grandiose, majestic tomb. Herodotus was born in Halicarnassus (ok. 485 – 425 p.n.e.), called the father of history, author of only one work titled History (History), which divided into nine books, is considered to be the beginning of historiographic creativity. To collect the necessary materials, Herodotus traveled extensively (in addition to Greece, he visited, among others. Mesopotamia, Egypt, Italy, Black Sea coast), thanks to which he could enrich the historical descriptions in his work with numerous ethnographic and geographic themes.

In the middle of the 4th century. p.n.e. Halicarnassus fought against the Rhodians, and at the end of that century it fell into the hands of the Persians, from which Alexander the Great liberated him. Anyway, during his entire campaign against Persia, only in Halicarnassus did Alexander meet very strong resistance. The walls built by the Mausolus were sure to help the defenders, fortified with three fortresses. After Alexander's victory, Karia was ruled by Queen Ada, and after her death the country became part of Alexander's empire. When he too gave up the ghost, these lands were first under the rule of the diadochi – Ptolemy, and later the Seleucids, to finally fall to Rome in 129 r. p.n.e. Thus Karia became part of the province of Asia. Halicarnassus developed without major obstacles under Roman rule; next, after the fall of the empire, he was independent, Greco-Roman center, but already in 654 r. was captured and completely destroyed by the Arabs. From then on, the city never recovered from its fall and vegetated under constant threat from the Turkmen tribes. W 1071 r. was captured by the Seljuks, a 25 years later captured by the knights of the First Crusade. Into the hands of the Turks (this time from the Mentese dynasty) fell again in the mid-fourteenth century. and became part of one of the provinces they created. But it was evident that Halicarnassus was not destined to be the silent servant of the dissenters, because at the beginning of the 15th century. it was captured by knights of the Knights Hospitaller (otherwise hospitals), who decided, that the city will serve as a base for Asia Minor, and then they built a fortress dedicated to St.. Peter. The city soon took over the name of the castle, which sounded from the Greek Petrion, and when the Turks again and finally took control of it (The Ottomans mastered Halikamas only in 1. half. XVI w.), they called it Bodrum, which was the truncated form of Petrion.

Accommodation

Bodrum is a typical resort, So we will not find very cheap dormitories of the "for undemanding" category”. Cheap hotels are just as hard to find, because they are like that only in the off-season. Not enough in summer, that it is difficult to find accommodation, it's still a day in the rooms, which we would normally pay for 7 USD, it costs 15 USD, and often more.

Gastronomy

There is no special district in Bodrum, where cheap premises would be concentrated, which is hard to find here. There are more premises with higher than average prices. Restaurants and locals are scattered all over the city, although, of course, most of them will be found on the promenade and in the bazaar district.

Bathhouses

There is only one proper bathhouse in town – Bardakci Hamami, Omurca Dere Cad., opposite the hatch of the Delfi Hotel. The price for the set is as high as 17 USD and as befits a tourist destination, there are no restrictions on women's bathing.