BODRUM - BODRUM
Homer's description of Bodrum as "The land of eternal blue" and the
words of another resident of Bodrum, Cevat Şakir, who said "The
heavenly bliss of life in Bodrum is better than any eternal bliss that may await
us" were not without foundation in reality. Throughout history Bodrum,
known as Halicarnassos in ancient times, has always been fought over and people
have been unwilling to share its beauty with others. Built on a peninsula formed
by the meeting of the eastern and western harbors, Bodrum, with its narrow
streets winding down to the sea, is famous for its castle, its world-renowned
yachts, its shipyards and the dazzling white houses and tombs lining the shores
of its two harbors. Bodrum has all the facilities to meet the expectations of
tourists from all income levels ranging from the rich yacht owners to the penny
counting tourists who just want a reasonable room to make his vacation last all
summer.
History
Bodrum has been the cradle of several civilizations. Down through the ages it
has suffered from the countless invasions of those coming from the Aegean
islands and has been important to all those powers wishing to dominate the
Aegean.Halicarnassos(Bodrum) was an important city in the Caria civilization
which was located between its much more powerful neighbors Lykia and Ionia. The
region boasts such greats as the historian Heredotus, history's first woman
admiral Artemisia I, and the just-as-skilled Artemisia II as well as artists
like Leachares and Shepas. Bodrum experienced the dominance of various
civilizations throughout the history such as Persians,Mecedonians,Roman Empire
and Byzantines. Byzantines lost their power in Anatolian region after they were
defeated by the Seljuk Ruler Alpaslan at Malazgirt in 1071. Rhodian
knights had constructed the present Bodrum castle and established theirrule over
the region. Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent on his military expedition to
Rhodes conquered Bodrum together with Rhodes and added them to the territory of
Ottoman Empire.
