Edens of Turkey

Assos (Άσσος) is an ancient city on the southwest coast of Troas in the Turkish province of Canakkale, the city is now Behramkale.

History
The municipal court, a 234 m high cliffs of dark Trachyte directly on the sea, was already in the Bronze Age. In the 7th Century BC was Assos of Methymna on the neighbouring island of Lesbos. The city was a member of the Attisch-Deli’s Alliance, but apparently played in the Greek-Persian conflict of the 5th And 4 Century BC no role. Only in Satrapenaufstand it is important here is entrenched 366 BC aufständige the Satrap Ariobarzanes. Since about 360 BC, it was under the reign of his successor and Eubulus Hermeias. 334-241 BC, the city in the reign of Alexander the Great territory and the subsequent Seleucids.

241-133 BC Assos belonged to the realm of Attaliden of Pergamon before it is part of the Roman Empire. In the Byzantine period was Assos bishop’s seat and one on Aigaion Pelagos. Even 1306, the Greeks Assos the fortress, which is only in the area of ancient Acropolis ruled against the Ottomans defend shortly thereafter, the settlement but in whose possession.

Ruins
The city wall is in its expansion of 3 km with towers and gates in large parts still very well preserved. It was in many phases of 3 Century BC to Byzantine times. In addition, remnants of a well archaic city wall still visible.

The Doric temple of Athena at the highest point of the mountain town was around 530-520 BC built. Some of the columns are made of local Trachyte, but in ancient white marble stucco covered were in the context of the archaeological research partially. The Temple of Athena is the only known archaic temple Doric order in Asia Minor. From here you have a good view of the island of Lesbos.

 
Ottoman mosque after the conquest of the city built wurdeIm City area, on the slopes between Agora and sea, are still receive the Agora on two sides of surrounding buildings, the Bouleuterion, the gymnasium, the theatre and a Roman spa. Outside the city wall is a well-preserved tomb necropolis with buildings and tombs.

On the edge of the village is now a mosque from the time Murat I. (1326-1389), one of the earliest ever Ottoman mosques. She was using many ancient and Byzantine Spolien built.

Research history
In 1881-83 Assos found American excavations. Many finds, especially parts of the temple sculptures, arrived at the Louvre in Paris and in the museums of Istanbul and Boston. Since 1981 listed Turkish excavations under the direction of Ümit Serdaroğlu († 2005). The excavations since 2006 by Nurettin Arslan continued.