Günay visits Milas excavation site in Turkey

MUĞLA - Anatolia News Agency

The newly found tomb of Hekatamnos (the father of king Mausalos) makes Milas a popular destination for tourists interested in archaeological sites, Günay said. AA Photo

The newly found tomb of Hekatamnos (the father of king Mausalos) will make Milas a popular destination for tourists interested in archaeological sites, according to Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Ertuğrul Günay has said.

The tomb is 2,400 years old, and according to Günay its discovery is very important for Turkey.When the necessary excavation work at the site is complete, the area will become as important as Ephesus, he said.

Noting that the damage that artifact smugglers have done in the area, Günay announced the beginning of anew excavation project at the site. The project will continue for 1.5 years, and Günay described it as the most important and maybe the most interesting excavation in Turkey. Günay visited the area and entered the site of the tomb excavation works, and discussed the project with Abuzer Kızıl, head of the excavation team.

The earliest historical mention of the city dates from the early 7th century BC, when a Carian leader from Mylasa, named Arselis, is recorded to have assisted Gyges of Lydia in his contest for the Lydian throne.

The same episode may be the origin of accounts surrounding the beginning of the cult of Labrandean Zeus, and the erection of a statue of Zeus in Milas’ neighboring city of Labranda. The statue supposedly held the labrys brought over by Arselis from Lydia, and was long held sacred by peoples across western Anatolia.