Kaunos and the history of Dalyan: a harbour city between Caria and Lycia

On the west bank of the Dalyan river, the ancient city of Kaunos was an important harbour on the border between Caria and Lycia. The ruins, now surrounded by reed beds and river, still bear the traces of a lively trading centre that once opened onto the sea.

The origins of Kaunos

The history of Kaunos goes back at least to the early first millennium BC. The ancient historian Herodotus wrote that the Kaunians considered themselves to be of Cretan origin and had customs of their own. Over the centuries the city lived under Carian, Persian, Rhodian and Roman rule.

The rock tombs

The temple-fronted tombs that have become the symbol of Dalyan were carved into the cliffs in the 4th century BC for the noble families of Kaunos. Although they are popularly called the "King's Tombs", they most likely belonged to the city's leading families. Their columned façades, resembling Greek temples, show the influence of Hellenic culture in the region. Simpler, smaller chamber tombs are also found on the slopes.

What to see in the ancient city

At Kaunos you can see the Hellenistic theatre built into the hillside, the Roman baths, a basilica, the harbour agora and a fountain house. The walls on the acropolis were in use until the Middle Ages. The view from the upper rows of the theatre, over the river, the reeds and towards İztuzu, is one of the finest in the area.

A silted-up harbour

Kaunos owed its wealth to its harbour. Over the centuries, however, silt carried by the river filled the harbour and the coastline moved to where it is today. Once the harbour could no longer be used, and with malaria spreading from the marshes, the city was gradually abandoned.

The origin of the name Dalyan

A "dalyan" is a fish trap built across a river to catch fish as they migrate between the lake and the sea. The traditional fishing weir that gave the town its name can still be seen on the river, and grey mullet and sea bass are still caught this way.

The Sultaniye hot springs

The healing waters of Sultaniye on the shore of Lake Köyceğiz were already known in antiquity, and remains of Roman-era buildings can be found around the springs.