ASSOS, SEAPORT
Assos, a small village in Ayvacik town on the hill, is about an hour, 87 kms far away from Canakkale. Assos ancient city , one of the most important settlements of Antic ages , is surrounded by 4km city walls and elevated from 240 metres/1120 feet above sea level. Founded on the andesit rocky hill oppoiste of Mitillini Island as a military posta and a naval base.Pluto, one of the students of Aristoteles, lived in Assos for three years and founded a school of philasopy.
Established by Aeolians from Lesbos in 1200 BC. In 560 BC it became of the satraps of Lydian Kingdom, the city-state became one of the alliens of Ionian Federation in 478 BC to defeat the Persians but fell into Persian hands in 405 BC. Alexander the Great defeated the Persian in 334 BC and then Assos became a Pergamon city in 3rd C BC later it became a Roman city in 133 BC .St. Paul, the apostle, visited the city during the missionary journeys twice in the 1st. C AD and the inhabitants of Assos accepted Christian faith. When Rome split into two at the end of the 4th C AD, the city became a Byzantine town. During the Crusaders it was destroyed and ruled by them for 20 years. In 1330 Assos was taken over Ottoman troops.
Established by Aeolians from Lesbos in 1200 BC. In 560 BC it became of the satraps of Lydian Kingdom, the city-state became one of the alliens of Ionian Federation in 478 BC to defeat the Persians but fell into Persian hands in 405 BC. Alexander the Great defeated the Persian in 334 BC and then Assos became a Pergamon city in 3rd C BC later it became a Roman city in 133 BC .St. Paul, the apostle, visited the city during the missionary journeys twice in the 1st. C AD and the inhabitants of Assos accepted Christian faith. When Rome split into two at the end of the 4th C AD, the city became a Byzantine town. During the Crusaders it was destroyed and ruled by them for 20 years. In 1330 Assos was taken over Ottoman troops.
First excvations began in 1881 by the Americans and it began again in 1981. Today you can see the the City Walls, about 4km long and 20m in height dated 4th C BC, with two main gates as entrance and exit. In front of city Gates, there is a Nekropol, a cemetry,where the death were buried in terrra cotta jars. Athena temple , situated on the highest point of the hill , was built in Doric order still attracts the vistors.Unfortunately the statue of Athena was taken out illegally by the Americam after the excavation.
The amphi-theatre, estimated about 2500 people in capasity, was built by Romans in the 1st C AD but destroyed several times during the earthqaukes and later used as a source of rocks for many buildings in the village. It was restored by the archeologists so it hosts some festivals and events during the season.
Agora, shopping centre, is one of the colorful and alive centers of the ancient cities in antquity, is surrounded by two Roman stoas built in different times for shoppers.Stoas are the colonnaded walkways (porticos) which protect the people from rain and sunburn.
Assos has been excavated by Canakkale 18 Mart Universty since 1995 and is open for visitiors 08.30 a.m to 19.30 p.m., from April to October.
Once upon a time, Assos was surrounded with acorn tree woods. Acorn, one of the raw important metarilas of paint industry, had been expoeted from Assos till 1950s and stone buildings in the harbor area were built to store acorn as awarehouses and then after discovery of vinly paint, acorn lost its importantance for not being used anymore, and village people began using those trees as to make charcoal and the buildings were transformed into buitique hotels inthe years 20005.
The amphi-theatre, estimated about 2500 people in capasity, was built by Romans in the 1st C AD but destroyed several times during the earthqaukes and later used as a source of rocks for many buildings in the village. It was restored by the archeologists so it hosts some festivals and events during the season.
Agora, shopping centre, is one of the colorful and alive centers of the ancient cities in antquity, is surrounded by two Roman stoas built in different times for shoppers.Stoas are the colonnaded walkways (porticos) which protect the people from rain and sunburn.
Assos has been excavated by Canakkale 18 Mart Universty since 1995 and is open for visitiors 08.30 a.m to 19.30 p.m., from April to October.
Once upon a time, Assos was surrounded with acorn tree woods. Acorn, one of the raw important metarilas of paint industry, had been expoeted from Assos till 1950s and stone buildings in the harbor area were built to store acorn as awarehouses and then after discovery of vinly paint, acorn lost its importantance for not being used anymore, and village people began using those trees as to make charcoal and the buildings were transformed into buitique hotels inthe years 20005.
Content Author : Mahmut ÖKÇESIZ
Page Editor : Mustafa Gökhan BULUT
Published : 26 August 2014
Page Editor : Mustafa Gökhan BULUT
Published : 26 August 2014
