In the area, in which today's Akyaka is situated, the city of Idyma was founded. The settlement of Idyma extended east of today's Akyaka up to the village of Kozlukuyu ( 3 km) and the quarters of the İnişdibi and Yazılıtaş up to the ancient port which was nearby the forest cap site.
The Necropolis (rock graves) and the Acropolis are on the mountain-slopes in the north of Kozlukuyu. The Acropolis was explored in the year 1937 by the French researcher Louis Robert. Idyma was founded as a Carian city. The name originates from the Carian language. The area, where today's Muğla is situated, is known as the antiquate Caria. The most important city of Caria was Milas. Idyma was situated in the southern Caria. The Carians were the earliest settlers in the area. Whereas the customs and the way of life is known, the language of the Carians, since no documents are found, remained unknown.
In 546 BC, the Persian army conquered the area under the command of Harpagos. Under the Persian rule the customs and the religion remained unchanged. Between 484 and 405 BC, the Delian Sea-federation (Delian League) under the leadership of Athens took over the administration. Idyma was affected too. In the tax lists of the years 453-452 BC, of the Delian Sea-federation Idyma is already mentioned. This is the earliest document concerning the city of Idyma. Additionally in these reports a leader is mentioned named PAKTYES, It is considered that the city was governed for a long time by the dynast of Pakytes. The City produced coins. One side was marked with IDIMION (IDIMION), the other side has the head of PAN. It is well known that the cult of the shepherds, the God PAN was of great importance in the region.
The Delian Sea federation ended in 405 BC. Idyma separated already around 440 BC, from this federation. The Spartian general Lysandros destroyed the city Cedrea (Sedir Adası) in 405 BC.
At the ridge of Kozlukuyu and the eastern side of İnişdibi rock tombs date from this time, dated 4th century BC. One of the toms has two columns. Architectural style and stone mason works are remarkable. It could be made for a member of the house of Paktyes.
Near Kozlukuyu, approximately 300 m above the rock tombs, the Acropolis is situated. Nearby is a 200m long site walls of Hellenistic time as well as the buildings, and the remnants of cisterns. On the northwestern side of the Acropolis, the road from Marmaris extends to Muğla.
İnişdibi and the mediaeval fortress which was situated in the proximity is a very old settlement area. The old rock tombs show this. It is certainly the fact that the fortress existed from antique times to mediaeval and Byzantine times and then at unknown times it was left. The Byzantine fortress, also mentioned as Genoose fortress (Ceneviz kalesi), would be worth to be restored. From the fortress an underground tunnel leads to the bank of Kadın Azmak.
The neighbors of the Idyma were in the east Callipolis (in the proximity of Kızılyaka), whose name remains still as Geliboluat the gulf of Gökova. Also Cedrea (Sedir Adası) in the gulf of Gökova was an important naval base. In the west CERAMOS (Gereme- Ören), after which the gulf is named. In the north Thera (Yerkesik) is appropriate, KILLANDOS (Yenice village) and Muğla, at its time a very small settlement. |
