Ancient Aeagen city with sea view for sale by real estate agency

MUĞLA

Bargylia dates back to the 5th century B.C. and is located near Güllük Bay on the northern coast of the Bodrum peninsula.

Those wandering around the Aegean resort town of Bodrum looking for a cozy private plot of land entrenched in history might just be in luck, because a local real estate agency may have what they need: An ancient city dating back to the 5th century B.C. located near Güllük Bay on the northern coast of the Bodrum peninsula.

The agency promoted the sale of the ancient Greek town of Bargylia with an advertisement not unlike those for regular summer houses or hotels. “A first degree archaeological site, facing the Bird Heaven Lake near the Boğaziçi Village, with full sea and lake view,” the advertisement says.

As no construction is permitted in first-degree archaeological sites, the agency’s advertisement underlines that no excavations have been made on the site yet. So, according to the advertisement, the new owners will be free to enjoy an amphitheater hinted to be underground, an area which is believed to belong to the city’s temple, the remains of a Roman bath and a necropolis from the Byzantine era, all for the trifle of 22 million Turkish Liras (around $10 million).

The advertisement also promotes Bargylia as a site named by Bellerophontes, the mythological hero who slayed the Chimera to honor his friend Barglos killed by Pegasus.

Call on ministry for expropriation

Meanwhile, archaeologists have called on the Culture and Tourism Ministry to expropriate archaeological sites such as Bargylia in order to ensure their protection.

“Unfortunately, due to an insufficient budget, archaeological sites are only expropriated during excavations or urban projects,” said Binnur Çelebi, a senior member of the Archaeologists Association.

Çelebi also warned that some owners may seek to downgrade the status of their sites with the aim of opening them for construction. “Private ownership of those sites is obstructing archaeological work. However, the person or persons who acquire those sites can absolutely not conduct any construction activities,” she said.

The real estate agent promoting the ancient city, Halil Okan Tavaslı, said that it has attracted quite a considerable demand, but there has been no agreement on the price yet.