From Halicarnassus to Modern Bodrum

In ancient times, Bodrum was known as Halicarnassus. Leleges, Carians, and Dorians lived on these lands; the city became one of the most important centers of the Carian Region. According to Herodotus, known as the Father of History, Halicarnassus was founded by the Dorians. In the 6th century BC, it came under Persian rule and reached its peak during the time of King Mausolus. With Halicarnassus declared as the capital, the city developed rapidly, and the Mausoleum built in memory of Mausolus went down in history as one of the seven wonders of the world. In 334 BC, the city was conquered by Alexander the Great and gradually began to lose its former power.

Continuing its existence as a small settlement during the Roman and Byzantine periods, Bodrum came under Turkish rule from the 13th century AD. The city, which remained within the borders of the Menteşe Principality for a short time, became an important strategic base with the castle built by the Knights of Saint John in the 15th century. This Bodrum Castle is one of the city's most important symbols today. In 1523, during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, Bodrum was annexed to the Ottoman Empire.

In the early years of the Republic, Bodrum looked like a quiet coastal town with its peaceful harbor, white houses, and fishermen. Cevat Sakir Kabaağaçlı, the Fisherman of Halicarnassus, who came to Bodrum in exile in 1925, played a decisive role in shaping the city's cultural and literary identity. Thanks to his works written with passion for nature, the sea, and Aegean life, Bodrum began to attract artists and intellectuals; the concept of the 'Blue Cruise,' known worldwide today, was born in this unique geography. Undergoing a rapid transformation with the development of tourism since the 1960s, Bodrum has managed to blend its traditional texture with modern life.