Iasos

Iasos (Greek: Iασoς or Iασσoς ), was an ancient city on the coast of Caria in Asia Minor (now Turkey, close to the village Kıyıkışlacık Milas ). She was originally on an island that was later connected to the mainland.

Iasos one of the Ionian cities in Asia Minor ( even though it was supposedly founded by Argos ). Recent excavations have shown that the place was already inhabited during the Early Bronze Age. In strata of the Middle Bronze Age finds were many Cretan origin to days so that a Minoan colony is considered probable. During the 15th century BC, the site appears to have been settled Mycenaean - similar to Miletus could, therefore, a Minoan settlement have been replaced by a Mycenaean.

Like its neighboring cities ( eg Miletus ) Iasos was in classical times to temporarily Delian League and Persia, since 129 BC to the Roman province of Asia. The settlement existed until 15-16. Century on, then the place was abandoned.

The old town from the Hellenistic and Roman periods (including city walls, Agora, Theater, City Hall, Aqueduct ) is (initially led by Doro Levi ) explored since 1960 by Italian archaeologists. Numerous inscriptions have been found here that give insight into the internal affairs of the city.

Iasos was in late antiquity seat of a bishop. In the diocese, which belonged to the ecclesiastical province Stauropolis, the titular Iasus goes back ( so the Latin form of the name) of the Roman Catholic Church.