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 Culture

In these regions, the development of cities, the interaction between civilisations, architecture and art, the regional economy were linked to the Menderes Valley, where figs, honey and olive oil were produced. Caria was not as developed a civilisation as Lycia and Ionia. Its architecture, arts, science and philosophy were behind those of its neighbours and were influenced by them. The most important architectural monument was the Mausoleum or the Tomb of King Mausolus in Halikarnassos. Under the reign of Mausolus II (377-353 BC) the capital was moved from   Mylasa to Halikarnassos. This led to the further development in Halikarnassos. The Mausoleum is among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, built by the wife and sister of King Mausolus Artemisia II in 350 BC. The mausoleum’s construction was influenced by the Lycian arts, while having the tomb chamber itself above ground showed an Ionian style. In excavations recently took place in Müsgebi (Ortakent-Bodrum), Knidos and Stratonikeia pieces of Mycean pottery dating from the 15th to 13th centuries BC have been found, showing the links with the Mycean culture in the region that spread from Rhodes and Cyprus all the way down to Syria. The Hellenic and Roman civilisations that took over Western Anatolia by the 4th century BC have left important traces in the Carian cities. There are remains of the Menteşe Kingdom to be seen in the Beçin Castle near Milas.