Excavations set to start at ancient Greek city of Amos

Excavations are soon set to start on the 2,200-year-old Amos, one of the most important ancient Greek cities in the southwestern Turkish province of Muğla’s Marmaris district.

The theatre of Amos [Credit: AA]

Located on a hill in the Turunç neighborhood’s Kumlubük area, Amos will host teams from the Marmaris Museum Directorate, Selçuk University and the Marmaris Trade Chamber (MTO) during the excavation process.

MTO Chairman Mehmet Baysal said they had previously made environmental arrangements in Amos and registered the monumental artefacts in the ancient city, which is almost 25 kilometers away from the centre.

He said that for the archaeological excavations, they had initiated joint work with the Marmaris Museum Directorate and Selçuk University.

The theatre of Amos, with the gulf of Marmaris in the background 
[Credit: WikiCommons]

“We have finished the feasibility study. The university determined a budget of 467,000 Turkish Liras for the excavations, which are set to continue for three years,” he said.

He said works would start in the ancient city in the event that they found a budget, noting that the university was looking for a sponsor. “If they can’t find a sponsor, the chamber will provide support,” he added.

Baysal said they planned to start excavations next fall. “The ancient city of Amos has never been excavated. University academics, who will carry out works there, think they will be able to find very precious artifacts in Amos and make a great contribution to tourism in Marmaris.”

One of the Hellenistic towers of Amos 
[Credit: WikiCommons]

One of the most important cities of the Union of Rhodes, Am(m)os means “sandy” in Greek. Known as Samnaios in the Hellenistic era, Apollon was considered the leading god of the city.

The city is surrounded by 1.8-metre-thick and 3.5-metre-high walls and towers. The city, whose most important surviving structure is a theatre, was settled from the Classical era until the Byzantine era.

The ancient city was declared a first-degree archaeological site on Oct. 14, 1978.

Source: Hurriyet Daily News [December 16, 2015]