AMYZON
(Mazi n Kalesi) Turkey.
In the
hills of Caria 15 km NW of Alinda (Karpuzlu). Called
by Strabo (
658) a peripolion of Alabanda and of less
account; mentioned also by Pliny, Ptolemy, Hierokles,
and in the Byzantine bishopric lists. In the 3d c. the city
was allied first with the Ptolemies, then with the Seleucids; in the 2d c. it concluded an alliance with Herakleia
under Latmos. On one occasion it sent a delegation to
the oracle at Klaros. The rare coins are Hellenistic and
Imperial.
A stretch of the city wall stands 6 m high in excellent
isodomic ashlar, and inside it are one or two ruined and
unidentifiable buildings, also a row of a dozen large
vaulted underground chambers, apparently storerooms.
Outside the city is the poorly preserved temple of Artemis, dating from the time of the Hekatomnids, and
built on a series of terraces. The temple was in the Doric
order, 16 by 5 m, and an architrave block has been found
bearing a dedication by Idrieus. The cult, with which
Apollo was associated, dates back to the 6th c. The
numerous inscriptions found are not yet published.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
L. Robert,
CRAI (1953) 403-15.
G. E. BEAN