Alabanda Ancient City Alabanda was an ancient settlement situated roughly 7 kilometers to the west of modern-day Çine in Turkey. Established during the 4th century BCE, the city’s name is believed to derive from the combination of the words "ala" (meaning horse) and "banda" (meaning victory or contest). Alabanda was included in the satrapy governed by Maussolus, the son of the Carian noble Hecatomnus. Maussolus acquired the satrapy of Caria around 392/391 BCE from the Achaemenid ruler Artaxerxes II Mnemon, placing the city under indirect Persian (Achaemenid) control. Alabanda was also home to a temple dedicated to Zeus Chrysaor, reflecting its religious and cultural significance. Following the conquests of Alexander the Great, Alabanda became a contested city among his successors, particularly between the Antigonid and Seleucid dynasties. Toward the end of the 3rd century BCE, the city was renamed Antiochia of the Chrysaorians. However, this name fell out of use after the Roman victory over Seleucid king Antiochus III at the Battle of Magnesia in 190 BCE. The Treaty of Magnesia, signed in 190 BCE, officially ended Seleucid influence in the region, transferring control of Alabanda to the Romans. In 40 BCE, the city was seized by Quintus Labienus, a Roman defector, who entered the area accompanied by a Parthian force. After plundering the city, his troops were overthrown and slaughtered by the local population. Under Roman administration, which lasted for nearly 250 years after 40 CE, Alabanda experienced a period of economic growth and cultural flourishing. The ancient city of Alabanda was fortified with defensive walls that once enclosed an area spanning approximately 4 to 5 square kilometers. Remnants of the original Hellenistic fortification walls and their towers are still visible today. Archaeologists have uncovered the ruins of the old agora, which measures 112 by 72 meters. Just to the north of the agora lies a rectangular structure, measuring 22 by 35 meters, believed to have functioned as a versatile meeting and assembly hall. Nearby, the city's main entrance gate also remains partially intact. South of the agora, and to the west of the present-day village of Doğanyurt, lie the remains of a 2nd-century BCE Ionic-style temple. This sacred structure, measuring 35 meters in width and 22 meters in length, was dedicated to Apollo Isotimos—a deity considered "equal in honor" to Zeus Chrysaor and also venerated alongside the divine Roman emperors. Notably, fragments of a frieze portraying an Amazonomachy (battle between Amazons and Greek warriors) were discovered at this site. In the southeastern part of Doğanyurt, visitors can find a remarkably well-preserved Hellenistic-era theater, featuring façades that extend 19 meters in width. Additionally, on the southern slopes of the ancient city, archaeologists have uncovered foundational remains believed to belong to a 2nd-century BCE temple once dedicated to the goddess Artemis. Beyond the city’s fortifications lies an ancient necropolis, or cemetery, containing numerous tombs and sarcophagi. Some of these stone coffins are inscribed with texts that reveal the occupations and social roles of the individuals buried within. If you have any questions or would like more information about the Alabanda Ancient City, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] or simply send us a message via WhatsApp. We’re here to assist you and will reply as soon as we can.