Euromos was an ancient city located in the province of Caria. It was first mentioned in the 5th century BC when it was known as Kyromos. The city was subdued by nearby Mylasa during the reign of King Mausolus of Halicarnassus in the 4th century BC, but regained some autonomy during Roman rule. Its ruins are located approximately 4 km southeast of Selimiye and 12 km northwest of Milas in the Muğla Province of Turkey.

Coordinates: 37° 22′ 27″ N, 27° 40′ 31″ E

Euromos stood on flat ground, which did not provide a natural defence, so the city was protected by thick walls of ashlar masonry with towers at intervals. On the western slope of the hill are the remains of a small theatre facing west. Only a few rows of seats and some fragments of the stage building have been preserved. But the most striking monument is the Temple of Zeus Lepsinos, just outside the city wall, one of the best-preserved temples in Asia Minor.

The temple was built during the reign of Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD on the site of an earlier Carian temple (the temenos itself dates back to the 6th century BC). However, the temple was never entirely completed (some standing columns were never fluted), probably due to the economic crisis that struck the ancient city 1,800 years ago. Wealthy citizens stepped forward with financial support and had their names engraved on plaques on some of the columns, but this support was insufficient. An inscription says that a physician named Menecrates donated five of the 32 columns of this temple, while another inscription mentions that a magistrate named Leo Quintus donated another seven.

Recent excavations have brought to light the remains of an altar and a Hellenistic decree, revealing that the temple was dedicated to Zeus Lepsynos and was not the first temple erected to him at Euromos.

PORTFOLIO

Links:

• Top 10 Archaeological Sites in Caria, Turkey
• Wikipedia
• The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites