ALİNDA

Alinda is a city located in the West of ancient Anatolia. Alinda, located in Inner Karya Region, is founded in a slope of a hill, which looks towards east in today’s Karpuzlu County. Alinda is founded by Karians. Although Karia was seen on the scene of history with its Princess Ada (IV. Century BC), the things that are know about the city goes well beyond 14th Century BC. Alinda was a city under the control of Seha River Country in the era of Hittitite Emperor II. Mursilis (1350 BC – 1320 BC). It is known that the name of Alinda was Ialanta in that era. This information was found on II. Mursilis’ annuals and inscriptions. Little is known about the near age of the city. Karian government, which was in Halikarnassos by then, has some inner conflicts in 340 BC and eventually these conflicts turned into an open war within the family. After the death of Mausolos’ wife Artemisia, Ada rose to power, but her brother Piksodaros overthrew her and send her to exile in Alinda. And Persian Satrap Orontobates, who had shared the rule with Piksodaros, did not share the rule with Ada after Piksodaros’ death.

In Princess Ada’s exile period, Alexander the Great has attacked Alinda, but was not successful in the following siege after the attack. When he ceased the invasion, Ada has opened the gates and invited Alexander into the city. They had made an agreement and according to this agreement, Ada ruled the city after the conquest of the city. After Alexander the Great has conquered all of Karia, he gave up the rule of the country to Princess Ada and continued his conquests. After this incident, the name of the city was changed by Princess Ada as Alexandria-by-Latmos. There are some inscriptions about the ruler Olympikhos, who is a known ruler between 227-210 BC. When Princess Ada was in rule of Karia, there was a sacred temple devoted to Adonis in Alinda. And in this temple, there was an Aphrodite statue carved by famous artist Praxiteles. Richard Chandler was the first European adventurer to visit Alinda. Chandler, who has made some examinations in the Spring of 1765, came to the city from Latmos Herakleias. After that, the city was visited also by Englishman Charles Fellows, and started to be heard in Europe after its original place was determined.
Alinda city’s three storage agora, is a unique example of a three storage agora that is still standing on Anatolia. This agora, which has a monumental appearance, is located at the start of the 170m high slope which the city is built upon.

Although most of the city wall, which is surrounding Alinda is in ruins, some towers are still standing, and worth to see. Also seven of the aquaducts, which are known as seven-eyes in the common folk, are still standing with all their majestic appearances. Another structure of the city which is still standing is its theatre. Today, Alinda theatre, which can be considered as a small one, is an area for olive growth. Its passageway and walls are still standing. On the other hand, some of the seating places and its stage are ruined. There are two temple ruins in the northwest of the theatre. The names and uses of these structures and a circular structure which is above these, will be understood after the excavations.