Mugla`s place in a history

It is necessary, that the first settlements have appeared here in the beginning of a bronze age (3500-2000 up to AD). During antique times at the most part of territory of a province has been located the state called Karya. Karya occupied the significant area between the rivers Big Menders - in the north and Dalaman - in the south. In this territory now there are such settlements, as itself Mugla, and also places Kanaklidere, Yatagan, Ula, Marmaris, Keydgegis, Ortacha, Bodrum and Milas. Karya`s frontier neighbours were such the states, as Phrygia in the east, Lydia in the north and Lycia in a southeast. Places Dalaman and Fethiye is located in territory of ancient Lycia.

Nationalities, living in Karya

Is known, that, the local population living in this territory of 2000 up to AD named itself lyvian. The name of country Karya occured from a word of "kar", that in lyvia language meant " top, the maximum point ". The ellian sources mention Karua, how " the country of mountain tops ". Inhabitants of Karya counted themselves native born Anatolys. In Gerodot`s opinion, penalties arrived here having migrated with islands of Aegean sea. Having settled on rather wide area, they assimilated with lived here lyvians. Thus, aboriginals, having mixed up with new nation, by 1000 year up to have AD generated rather homogeneous community named Karya. It is known, that in mountain areas of peninsula Bodrum, lived the nationality having the special name leleg. Leleg also counted itself penalties, however have received a special name of that lived in remote rocky areas. This hypothesis was put forward by scientist Umar, comparing with word meanings of classic languages.

The cities of Karya

The major cities of Karya are Halikarnas (Bodrum) and Knyd (Datcha). Other settlements are scattered on all territory of district. Bargilya (Asarlik) and Eas (Kikishkildgik) are located at coast of gulf Gulluk; Mindos (Gumushluk) - in the western part of peninsula Bodrum, in an internal part of the same peninsula - Pisada and Tengela. Keramos (Yeren) and Kedray (island Sedir) - on southern coast of gulf Gekova. In depth of continent - Milas and Labranda, connected among themselves in the sacred road length of 14 kilometers. In the north from Milas - Aerom (Ayakli). Along a channel small rivers Marsjas (Chine-chay) - Arabanda (Araphisar), Alinda and Gerga. In area of settlement Jatagan - Stratonikya and Lagina. In a southwest of area there is city of Kaunos (Dalian), in an antiquity located on coast, but as a result of oozy deposits of the river Daljan, appeared in a distance from the sea. On east borders of Karya settled down Afrodisias, Tralleys (Aydin), Nisa (Sugtanhisar) and Akharakha (Salevatly), however these cities now belong to territory of the next administrative district Ajdyna. The country Lycia, which only small part is made within the borders of area of the Mugla, submitted by such cities as Telmesos (Fethiye), Tios, Pynara and Letoon.

Culture and art

The culture of civilizations is to the greatest degree reflected in architecture and art. The favorable environment which has created a fertile field for development of such agricultural branches as cultivation of a fig in a valley of the river Big Menderes, beekeeping and manufacture of olive oil in internal areas of continent was provided with growth and enrichment of the country. Despite of it, Karya there was no so a civilized society as Lycia and Ionia, substantially lagging behind in science, a philosophy, architecture and art. Karya willingly adopted experience of neighbours and used their achievements. The major monument of architecture in territory of Karya is the Mausoleum in Halikarnas, a representing gravestone monument to king. Governor Kariy Mavsol II (377-353 up to AD), in days of the board has transferred capital of the possession from Milas to Halikarnas. Due to the found importance, the city has received a push to the further development. After death of king, his widow and sister Artemizija II has enjoined to immortalize memory of the husband, having constructed the grandiose monument received the name the Mausoleum and recognized subsequently as one seven miracles of light. The mausoleum had unusually high basis that has been borrowed from rules of architecture of Lycia, and the gallery has been created by an example ionic columnar structures. The trace of Mycenae traditions also is clearly seen in culture of Karya. Influence of Mycenae culture is traced in extensive territory from Rhodes and Cyprus down to Syria. During excavation of cities of Mjusgebi (Bodrum-Ortakent), Knid and Stratonikya have been met examples of ceramics from Mycenae, dated 15-13 up to AD. Ellins and the Romans who have come later to western Anatoly, have brought in the contribution to cultural heritage of Karya too. It is possible to consider an example of architecture of times of dynasty Menteshe fortress Bechin-kale, near the Milas.

Half independent board in Karya (governor and tyrants)

In the sixth century up to AD cities of Karya get under Lydia's dictatorship. Further in 540 up to AD area it appears to the subordinated Persians. The Persian expansion proceeded about two hundred years, periodically interrupting during wars between Persia and Lydia or Persia and ellins. Nevertheless, both Lydia and Persia put rather weak pressure upon the country. The territory has been divided into autonomous regions, subordinated to the empire - conqueror, and each separate city coped the deputy - "tyrant". During the campaign Alexander the Great has intruded in Karya (334 year up to AD), has won and has destroyed many cities. The greatest losses has incurred Halikarnas which have been burnt completely. After short domination of Egypt (3 century up to AD), Since 192 years up to AD Karya joins in Roman empire. In days of anatolyan beyliks, during two hundreds years (1261-1451) area was under the control of dynasty Menteshe which have selected fortress Bechin near the Milas as the center. In 1451 all area, behind exception Bodrum, has joined Ottoman empire. Bodrum continued to remain base of Rhodes knights down to the fifteenth century - time of board of padishah Sulejmana Magnificent when city and itself island Rhodes have surrendered under an impact of yanychars. The part of the Greek population up to the end of the nineteenth century lived in sandgak (settlement) Mentesh, taking place under administration managerial control Aydyn. Having gone through the Italian occupation continued since May, 11 1919 to July, 5, 1921, after clearing by republican armies the settlement Menteshe has been renamed into the Mugla and became the center of new district.

The houses of Mugla

Architectural styles of the Mugla, mountain pasture Karabaglar and Dugerek have basically similar characteristics. Typical two-storeyed houses with court yard form so narrow streets, that on them even one car passes with the problem, the facade of a house is inverted in a court yard, practically anywhere on a ground floor there are no windows looking on street. However on the side inverted in a court yard of windows great variety. The facade of a building is by all means directed on the south that there constantly reigned light and the sun. ПThus the northern side of house is blind and indistinct. Typical plans of structures vary depending on the size of a lobby, quantity of rooms taking place around of it, and also the location of a ladder going on the second floor. Ladders are usually made of a tree. The building is under construction symmetric in such a manner that on the sides of a lobby are one or two rooms. The ground floor is used for economic needs and warehouses. Sometimes the lobby reaches from one end of a house up to another. In such structures on the second floor there is a balcony on which it is possible to rise on a ladder from a court yard. The size of a lobby fully complies with width of the ladders established on edges, rooms settle down behind of a lobby and are built one after another closely, thus everyone has a door in a lobby. In similar houses the toilet settles down under a ladder. From street in a court yard conduct a wide two-folding gate "kuzulu", proportional to height of walls. Quite often above a gate are built on sloping, covered by a tile козырьки. Court yard of a house have the quadrangular form and are a place in which inhabitants spend the most part of time within seven months to year. Conditions here is in harmony with premises and a lobby, sometimes in a court yard is broken small garden, and in the center is arranged the small pool which bottom is covered with slippery stones. Trees are landed near the fencing and the one-storeyed wing is attached. In a wing the basic kitchen, a furnace, a pantry and sometimes a bath, capacities with the pure water, constructed of a stone or a second-grade tree settles down, are established inside houses or in a court yard. For a covering of roofs the tile A-la-turka (in turkish style) is used. And everywhere pipes on the roofs, decorated with a traditional ornament and becoming some kind of a symbol of the Mugla are visible.