"King's" villas cause outrage [Caria, in modern Turkey]

Voices Newspaper ^ | Saturday, May 17, 2008 | editor

[SunkenCiv]

A villa with a swimming pool built on top of the tombs of the King of Caria in Turgutreis, near Bodrum has caused outrage among locals and historians... The huge tombs belonging to the kings of Caria, a pre-Hellenic seafaring people who founded a kingdom in the southwest of Anatolia in today's Mugla province, who existed from the 11th century B.C. until they became a Persian satrapy in 545 B.C... The matter came to light after Professor Fahri Iflik from Akdeniz University's Department of History and Archaeology went on a tour of the Carian civilization remains in the region with his assistant Ozay Kartal. Having just held a seminar on Mysians in Bodrum last Saturday, Iflik was shocked to see that villas were built over the tombs of Carian kings. The tombs were registered by the Mugla Culture and Nature Protection Board two years ago after they were discovered by Bodrum Museum archaeologists. He noted that construction machinery was used to break the stairs of the tombs while tombs were broken to pass water pipes. Iflik also said that barbed wire fence and solid walls were erected around some tombs... Contractor, Esa Fiahinkaya, said he was not the only one to build over the tombs, noting that the land was legally his... the building licenses for the villas were issued in 2002, before the tombs were registered as a cultural treasure.

[SunkenCiv]

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[SunkenCiv]

carian site:freerepublic.com

Google

[pepsionice]

Having been to Turkey on several trips...I can attest to the fact that there are ruins all over the country and simply sitting there...waiting for the government to take action. There are local sites that you can chat with a cafe owner and he will tell you about the site...which everyone knows locally...but no real attempt by the government to excavate the site. If you want interest in excavation...you gotta get political parties lined up and standing in your behalf...then be connected to some university to get funding for the real dig itself. A self-made archeology dude could get a dozen locals lined up and accomplish a project in just a month...but then you’ve violated a dozen odd Turkish laws.

[skr]

I can understand, in a land full of ancient history, how difficult it might be to find a location that isn’t connected to some event or other, but building on graves is never a good idea.

[Fred Nerks]

The history of Bodrum, known as Halicarnassus or Halicarnassos goes back to the 13th century BC. Excavaties reveal the 5000 year old history of this town. Many civilisations found their home here. Carians for excample, Homer tells in his Ilia, that the Carians helped to defend Troya.

Heredotus, known as the father of history, was born in Bodrum in 484 BC.- and he said that Bodrum had been founded by the Dorians. The next settlers were Carians and Lelegians. In the 6'th. century BC., the region came under Persian rule. Its most brilliant period was around 353. BC. when it was the capital of the Satrap of Caria (In this century it was famous for its trade, sailing and boatbuilding.) Artemisia who was a warrior-woman played a significant role in the protection of the Asian Union and she achieved fame by adopting a stance against Rhodes as the Admiral of the Carian fleet in 480 BC.

SOURCE.

[MarkL]

Have these people ever seen the movie “Poltergeist”?!?!?!?!

Mark

[wildbill]

Don’t be driven to despair. Almost every foot of the earth is the ancient burial place of someone or the site of some home or business.

Especially places with a nice view or other good reason for building—location, location,location.

So we’ll save and study what we can. Look at the amazing work going on in Rome on Palatine hill which has been documented here.

[aristotleman]

A land full of history that you stole merely 500yrs ago, isn’t as precious.

[Turret Gunner A20]

Ping

[Turret Gunner A20]

A land full of history that you stole merely 500yrs ago, isn’t as precious.

To whom. the 'stealee' of the people they 'stole' it from,?

[Turret Gunner A20]

Correctiom:

To whom. the 'stealee' OR the people they 'stole' it from, OR the people they stole it from, ad infinitum?

[aristotleman]

...stole it from the Greeks.

[aristotleman]

Land of your own ancient ancestors is more valuable, you appreciate their achievements, buildings and history.
Land you own from a conquest, you don’t value as much, and the ancient ruins are tourist sites at best.

No turk was there 1000yrs ago.

[Jeff Chandler]

The location of the villas over ancient tombs has caused great concern, and a nasty algae bloom.

[SunkenCiv]

:’)

[SunkenCiv]

Note: this topic was posted (by me) Saturday, May 17, 2008. I'm just updating the ping list message, and while I'm at it, repinging everyone, as some may have missed it, and judging from the minimal response, some may have paid no attention the first time through. :')

[afraidfortherepublic]

They say that you can barely turn a spade full of earth in Israel without turning up a relic of a previous civilization.

[Texan5]

People/ethnic groups who do not hold respect for relics of previous civilizations are clueless and severely limited in their thinking...

[colorado tanker]

Reportedly, the hotel is changing its name to the Tomb Raider.