Halicarnassus – Submerged Moles of Bodrum Harbour
Ἁλικαρνασσός · Halikarnassos · Bodrum Harbour · Mausoleum Harbour
Archaic to Byzantine (1070 BCE – 1402 CE)·Carian / Greek / Persian satrapal / Roman / Byzantine / Hospitaller·🇹🇷 Muğla Province, Bodrum, Turkey
About
About Halicarnassus – Submerged Moles of Bodrum Harbour
Halicarnassus, birthplace of Herodotus and capital of Mausolus (377–353 BCE) with the Mausoleum wonder, preserves two submerged moles under Bodrum modern marina: Myndus Gate mole (west, 130 m at −2 m) and Salmakis mole (east, 90 m at −3 m) enclosing a 12 ha basin. Mausolus moved the Carian capital from Mylasa to the fortified isthmus, building 7 km walls and a secret naval harbour (kryptos limen). Underwater survey (1960s Blackman, 2006–10 Carian coast project) with multibeam bathymetry traced the moles beneath yachts.
West mole incorporates Hellenistic ashlar with dovetail clamps; east mole overlies Archaic rubble. Harbour besieged by Alexander 334 BCE. 5 m since Mausolus plus marina dredging truncate moles.
Why it mattersOnly satrapal Mausoleum harbour with surviving moles; shows Mausolan urban planning moving capital to fortified isthmus harbour.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Location of Alexander breach near Myndus Gate
- 02Whether secret naval harbour was separate basin east of main
Theories
- 01Mausolus chose Halicarnassus for double natural harbour isthmus
- 02Moles built by Pytheos architect of Mausoleum
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 1070 BCE Greek settlement; refounded 377 BCE by Mausolus
- Period
- Archaic to Byzantine (1070 BCE – 1402 CE)
- Culture
- Carian / Greek / Persian satrapal / Roman / Byzantine / Hospitaller
- Builders
- Mausolus and Artemisia II
- Purpose
- Satrapal capital, wonder-enshrining port and Carian naval base
- Abandoned
- 1402 Hospitaller castle overlies harbour; ancient moles subsided
- Rediscovered
- 1960s Blackman harbour survey; 2006–10 multibeam mapping
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
377 BCE
Mausolus moves capital to Halicarnassus; builds moles
353 BCE
Mausoleum built for Mausolus by Artemisia
334 BCE
Alexander besieges Halicarnassus; harbour burnt
2006–10
Multibeam bathymetry maps two submerged moles under marina
On the ground
Structures & features
37.0320° N · 27.4320° E · -2 m · 3 mapped features
West mole (Myndus Gate mole) submerged
mole130 m Hellenistic mole at −2 m under marina pontoon
37.0330° N · 27.4300° EEast mole (Salmakis mole) submerged
mole90 m eastern mole at −3 m with Archaic rubble base
37.0310° N · 27.4350° EMausoleum podium above harbour
mausoleumMausoleum foundations 300 m north of harbour (+15 m)
37.0378° N · 27.4240° E
Gallery