摘要: Description　　Stratonikeia is located in the borders of the Village of Eskihisar, 7 kilometers west of the district of Yatağan in the province of Muğla. It lies on Kadıkule Hill in the west of the fert

Description

　　Stratonikeia is located in the borders of the Village of Eskihisar, 7 kilometers west of the district of Yatağan in the province of Muğla. It lies on Kadıkule Hill in the west of the fertile Yatağan Plain at the crossroads of main routes that connect western, central and southern Anatolia with each other. Stratonikeia, inhabited continuously from the Late Bronze Age (1500 BC) to the present day, is one of the most important city-states in inner Caria. The name of the settlement was Atriya in Hittite Period, Khrysaoris and Idrias in Classical Period and Stratonikeia in Hellenistic Period. The name of the Hellenistic city was given by the Commander Seleucid Antiochus I, after the name of his former stepmother and later wife Stratonike in the first quarter of the third century BC. In subsequent periods, Stratonikeia changed hands among Ptolemaics, Macedonians and Rhodians. In 130/129 BC, the region became a part of the Roman Republic (then Empire). It benefited greatly from the continuous construction efforts that began with the Early Imperial Period.

　　From the Early Byzantine Period the population started to decrease and during the Middle Byzantine period the city continued to shrink. After the conquest of Anatolia, the Turkish tribes extended as far as southwestern Anatolia at the end of 11th century. Stratonikeia was continuously inhabited in the Principalities Period in the 14-15th centuries and afterwards. Over time it came under the control of the Ottoman administration and was decorated with many magnificent noble architectural buildings. It is known that many aghas (landlords) were present at the village in the late Ottoman Period and to the new era of Turkish Republic. Although Eskihisar Village has moved to a new area after the earthquake in 1957, 4 families still remain in the historical village houses within the territories of the ancient city.

　　The borders of Stratonikeia are well known, thanks to the fortification walls (about 3600 m. long) and size of the city can easily be determined. It is known that throughout history Stratonikeia suffered from many earthquakes and was rebuilt numerous times. Indeed, civic planning during the Hellenistic and Roman Periods was highly organized. The city was designed on a Hippodamian plan in the Hellenistic Period and the same plan was continued in the Roman Imperial Period. The infrastructure (e.g. sewage) system of the city was worked to perfection.

　　Structures in Stratonikeia:

　　The Gymnasium was built near the northern wall to the southwest of the northern city gate in the 2nd quarter of the 2nd century BC. The north side forming the narrow façade is 105 m wide. The total length of the building is estimated to be 267 m. Hence it is the largest known gymnasium from the Ancient Period.

　　Bouleuterion, located at the center of the city, was built in the east-west direction and has a rectangular plan. Based on the architectural elements and decoration, the building can be dated back to the second half of the 1st century BC.

　　The theater was built on a natural slope of the Kadikule Hill in the southern part of the city. The Greco-Roman type of theater is one of the structures known to date from the Hellenistic period. Based on the estimations through its present day remains, it must have hosted approximately 12.000 people.

　　Augustus-Imperial Temple is situated on an upper terrace south of the theater and gives the impression of being designed together with the theater. The peripteral temple is of Ionic order. Based on its architectural fragments, it dates back to the Early Imperial Period.

　　Roman Bath 1, constructed in the 2nd century AD, is one of the three baths in Stratonikeia indicated by the inscriptions. The building, constructed on the north-south axis, has a symmetrical plan as a part of Carian tradition. It is composed of apoditerium, frigidarium, tepidarium and at least 6 service rooms, all of which are symmetrically organized.

　　The Northern City Gate located on the northern fortification wall is where the sacred road coming from the Lagina Hekate meets the city. Therefore, it is of great importance both as an entrance and a ritualistic place. According to archaeological evidence, the gate must have been built in the Late Antonine-Early Severan period. The northern city gate has a monumental arched entrance on either side. Between the two entrances facing the city there is a Monumental Fountain having semi-circular pools decorated with two-tiered columns and statues in Corinthian order.

　　The Colonnaded Northern Street, which is 8.70 m wide, begins from the south mid-section of the open area in front of the northern city gate and continues towards the city center. In front of the gate is a 42 m wide open space surrounded by 8 monumental Corinthian columns and there are shops on the west. This was a gathering place for people who entered the city and those who came from the city to use the fountain.

　　The Square of old Eskihisar Village is located to the west of the ancient city, approximately 50 m east of the western fortification wall. Here the Turkish Bath (14-15th centuries), Şaban Ağa Mosque (1876), 10 coffeehouses, 5 butchers, 2 bakeries, 2 tailor shops and 20 various shops (from the first half of 20th century AD) can be seen from the Principalities, Ottoman and Republican periods. The monumental sycamore trees, which are more than 200 years old, enhance the beauty of the square. The stone paved roads and the sidewalks of the Ottoman period seen in the village square and in front of the shops are well preserved. Buildings of the old village of Eskihisar are remarkable examples of civil architecture. It is observed that blocks of classical antiquity were re-used as construction materials in many of those buildings. Most interesting examples of re-using those ancient materials are the house of Abdullah and Hadi Eskişar (constructed in 1876) and the house of Mehmet Eskişar (constructed in 1909). In both Agha houses, marble pieces derived from the marble blocks of antique buildings are re-used inside the whole wall pattern with bricks. Another example of a typical Agha house is the Hasan Şar House which was constructed in 1940. The building materials of this house with a hipped roof are rubble stones, ancient marble fragments and bricks. It was used as an excavation house until 1999. Today it serves as Museum store.