There is a unique bay which is opening of a heaven where the Aegean and the Mediterranean embraces. It lays its back to the green of pine forests. Marmaris, Once Herodotus said "with the world's most beautiful sky," is a modern tourist city.
Marmaris is a district center at Mugla province of Aegean Region. It is in front of a bay which partially closed by islands and the edge of the peninsula at SW of Turkey, an area between the Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea. Marmaris is on 36 ° 51 ¹ N longitude, 28 ° 16 ¹ E altitude. Marmaris is surrounded by the Gulf of Kerme and Reşadiye Peninsula from the west, Mugla from north and Mount Balan, Montenegro hills from east and sea from the south. There is a semi island called Adaköy in front of the shore of the bay, in front of it there are Badr Island, Goat Island and Pigeon. The oldest settlement of town is Castle district which is built on a hill of limestone stretched out to the sea. Marmaris then has developed along the coast, and skirts to the right.
Its position makes it easy to reach to both Marmaris and nearby locations which smells history and natural beauty. Dalaman airport is only an hour away. Bus station makes other cities within easy reach. There are so many nearby historical and natural beauties around Marmaris which you can arrange daily tours to visit and continue your evening in Marmaris night life. Marmaris also is a good location to visit Greek islands like Rodos which is only 45 minutes away and there are daily tours. Yachts routes usually have Marmaris drop. Pristine bays will meet you whether you sail with bareboat or sail on the deck of gullet. There are all the most extensive offerings of a high-capacity yacht marina such as wintering, maintenance, repair facilities for 12 months.
The city was founded on the hill where Marmaris is now by early settlers of Turkmen during Byzantine period. It was named as mermer town (Marble). During the rule of the golden age of Menteseogullari, thanks to international trade, Mermeris (marble city) was the name. It replaced the Fiskos role in ancient times which was ruined and extinct because of Natural disasters, looting and taking share from pillage until 1522. . "Mermeris" The name, Greek Marmaras, Italian (Latin) Marmarice / Marmaris, Marmorice to English, as, according to interest translated into actuality. The name of Marmaris was heavily used during the Italian occupation of World War. It was formalized with the Republican era.
Herodotus Bodrum and the famous geographer Strabo of Amasya'lı mentions about Fiskos in ancient times. Both of them settled in their peak periods. It is impossible that they call Marmaris with the name of Marmarisos. Where they have lived must be under the sea, or must have been an island. According to one saying, Suleiman the Magnificent Suleiman the Magnificent still did not like the castle in Marmaris he has ordered. And Marmaris name comes from Mimar as (Hang Architect).
Ancient settlements within the boundaries of Marmaris are as follows: Physkos (Beldibi, Asartepe), Amos (Hisaronu, Turunc), Bybassos (Hisaronu), Kastabos (Hisaronu), Smyrna (Bayırköy), Larymna (Bozburun), Thyssanos (Söğütköy), Phoenix (Taslica), Loryma (Bozukkale) by contracting (Walker's Port), Kedrai (Cedar Island), Euthena and Amnistos (Karacasogut). They are small cities of Caria including Physkos. But none of the others reach beyond the walls and the castle ruins besides Physkos.
Fiskos was the first port city and center of other settlements in the region of Caria. Fiskos in Carian language means "Nature city". This name is created because it has all the elements of nature and its beauty within. Known marks go back to 3400 BC. You can see the ruins of this important port town of ancient Caria around Asar hill north of Marmaris city center. However, today only top of city walls on the acropolis stayed. Just like all Caria layouts were established on steep mountain slopes of the hills, Fiskos was settled between the hills and valleys and slopes of the Beldibi Camiavlu.
Herodotus of Bodrum (the father of all historians) and famous geographer Strabo the Amasya mentions about Fiskos in ancient times, as the port of Ephesus and Mylasa for the Eastern Mediterranean. Throughout the existing sovereignties of Southwest Anatolia, It was the only and most important port for the Mediterranean, especially the Eastern Mediterranean. An important road network existed long which connects Fiskos to ancient capitals Mylasa, Alabanda, Troy, Pergamum, Ephesus and Miletus emphasize the importance for the port relations with overseas, especially the "mother country" with Egypt.
Initially, all kinds of trade (the Slave, marble, timber and wine) started with Egyptian, the relations expands with military and civilization. Carian mercenaries involved in the Famous Kadesh war for Hittites have been transported by ship from the port of Fiskos. They joined to Egyptians wars later. Some parts of these Mercenaries formed their own cities (4 pieces) and settled in the Nile Delta. Indeed, the first Carian inscriptions were found here. For the first time Egyptian art of making statues of normal human enters to Southwest Anatolia and the islands was from Fiskos.
Making its own money proves Fiskos was an important center. A very precious metal coin was found in the hands of a collector Mr. Borell of England in 1828. This money is very large, thick, and the extraordinary lengths that has the relief portraying branched horns and a writing of single line with 18 Carian letters "Sigma Phi UPSILON $ Y 2" on the face.
Fiskos joins to Empire of Egypt-Rhodes after the death of Alexander the Great. In this period the level of importance as a commercial port increased. And this position continued later in Roman and Byzantine periods. It is interesting that King of England VIII, Henry mentions about Fiskos in a document in 1513. In addition, the Museum of the Boston Museum specifies that an exhibited marble bust of Roman Emperor, the young Tiberius (Bust of Tiberius) was found in Marmaris (Old Physkos).
Numerous statues, blocs of sculptures and the tablets were found which starts from 4th century BC, especially around Eyiliktaşı. According to archaeologist George Bean, Even though various civilizations throughout history existed in Marmaris, there is a scarcity of surviving remains for so many of them. Since Fiskos was an always an important port city, they were not buried under ground. In contrast they were loaded to ships piece by piece and were used in other city projects. Because the hill slopes city was established are still evident today. Only famous harbor of Fiskos is under ground.