The Aegean coast is full of the wonders of the ancient world. Many civilizations left their traces on the land, and none is like one another. Suppose you are willing to follow the footsteps of the Western civilizations in Asia Minor. In that case, you should visit Assos Ancient City, the settlement before the Aegean, sunbathing for thousands of years like a goddess.
Located in Behramkale, Canakkale, the Ancient City of Assos is not just a tourist attraction. Its unspoiled Hellenistic urban fabric is a testament to its rich history. Surrounding the archaeological site are numerous beautiful beaches and bays, perfect for a summer vacation with a historical twist.
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Historical Background
Assos Ancient City was first established on a volcanic hill in the Early Bronze Age, in 3000 BC, by luvians, an indigenous Anatolian people. In Hittite resources, the region was called “Assuwa,” which is phonetically quite similar to its Greek name, “Assos.”
Hundreds of years later, in around 600 BC, Greeks from Lesbos Island came to Anatolia. Not surprisingly, they founded a city right opposite the Lesbos. The island is best known for being the hometown of the poet Sappho.
Famous Greek philosopher Aristotle came to Assos and married Pythia, the niece of Assos’ ruler Hermias. He founded an academy there and lectured for three years until Persians invaded the city. That’s why there is a statue of the philosopher at the entrance of the ancient city.
Another name that we can associate with Assos is Cleanthes, the famous Stoic philosopher. Born in Assos around 300 BC, Cleanthes went to Greece and became the pupil of Zeno, the founder of Stoic philosophy. He then became the successor of his master by expanding his ideas.
Key Attractions
City Walls
The city is surrounded by walls that are 3,200 meters long and 20 meters high, built in the 4th century BC. The well-preserved walls can still be seen today. Two main gates provide entry and exit to the city. The area in front of the east and west gates was used as a necropolis.
Necropolis
There are three necropolises in the Ancient City of Assos; the most important is located at the western entrance. There are various graves in these burial sites, which shows us that Assos had different burial customs. For example, ceramic urns found in the area indicate that cremation was one of the methods used in the ancient city.
During the Hellenistic Period, after the 4th century BC, people started to bury their dead in sarcophagi, big stone coffins used in ancient times. The name sarcophagus means “flesh-eating stone.” Ancient people used to use the sarcophagi for more than one person. When they opened a sarcophagus they had used years before and couldn’t see the dead person inside, they thought this stone ate human flesh.
As the city was founded on a volcanic hill, it abounded in andesite, a very durable stone, which is the signature of Assos’ architecture. This stone was also used to make sarcophagi, and Assos Ancient City exported them to many places in the world.
Temple of Athena
In 540 BC, the people of Assos built a temple for the goddess Athena. The city was under the protection of Zeus’ daughter. During the excavations, the cults of Egyptian goddesses Isis and Serapis were also found, which indicates that the region was inhabited long before the Greeks.
The building is crucial in Assos’ architecture as it is the first temple where the Doric and Ionian elements are used together. The Temple of Athena overlooks the beautiful scenery of the Aegean coast. Although some of its columns still stand in situ today, part of the ruins were taken to the Louvre and Boston Museums after the excavations that took place in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Theater
The theater of Assos Ancient City is a beautiful example of Hellenistic theater style. It was built in the 3rd century BC in one of the city’s most stunning locations. The theater provides the audience with a panoramic view of Lesbos Island. Its horseshoe-shaped cavea that rests upon a natural slope has the capacity of 5000 audiences.
Gymnasium
Assos had a small Gymnasium for training and sports competitions. It is the place where Aristotle lived and founded his school of philosophy.
Murat Hudavendigar Mosque and Bridge
Assos is an ancient city with ruins from different periods. Although the archaeological site has the spirit of Ancient Greece, you can also feel the later presence of the Ottoman Empire in the region.
When the Ottomans annexed Assos in the 14th century, they built a mosque on behalf of the monarch of the period, Murad I. The workers borrowed columns from ancient ruins and used them for the mosque’s construction. These Greek columns used for an Ottoman mosque are a clear depiction of the cultural mosaic in Anatolia.
It is believed that whoever built the mosque also built a bridge nearby at the same period. Constructed upon Santiniceis (Tuzla Cayi), the bridge is idiosyncratic with its well-preserved belts.
Visiting Tips
The archaeological site of Assos Ancient City is open to visitors every day from 08:30 AM to 9:00 PM. There are two entrance gates to the historical site. One is the gate you can reach through the village, which will take you to the Temple of Athena at the top. The other one is the old western gate, which you will notice on the left as you descend into the harbor. You can see the cemetery ruins, gymnasium, and agora here.
How to Get to Assos Ancient City?
To get to Assos Ancient City from Istanbul by car, you must cross the Dardanelles. To do this, you can take a ferry from different points. Then, you can reach Assos in approximately one hour via Ezine-Ayvacik. It takes nearly six or seven hours to get to Assos from Istanbul.
Those who don’t have private cars should arrive at Ayvacik and then take a minibus to the archaeological site.
Conclusion
To sum up, the Ancient City of Assos is one of the great attractions you can visit. The area provides you with the experience of an ancient harbor city, especially if you like to see different cultures harmonized together. You can also savor the Aegean Sea and the gold-like sand if you plan a visit during the summer months.
Have you ever visited Assos Ancient City? What are your impressions about the site?
Also read: 9 Layers of History: Ancient City of Troy
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