LABRANDA

   Labranda never grew any larger than a village, leaving today's ruins with an intimate atmosphere. Set high on a hill in a grove of pine trees above Milas, Labranda is well worth the bumpy ride required to get there. Several teams have undertaken the excavation of Labranda, uncovering much of interest. The sturdy foundation of a large Temple of Zeus has been cleared, as well as a marble building, which may have harboured the sacred fish. Also included are the solid andron, or men's club, with galls almost two meters thick, and a monumental tomb, with three sarcophagi inside, on the hillside above the temple site.
Labranda was a Carian city, famousforgreat plane tree forests, its water and Zeus Labrandos temple. The temple was a place for pilgrimage. Labranda was joined to ancient Mylasa (Milas) with a sacred road which is 13 km long. The suffix (-nda) was the place word used by Karians and Lykians in the old Anatolia. Labrynthos comes from the word Labrys which means two-sided axe. The axe is also the symbol of Head God Zeus.

   The oldest things found in Labranda belonged to 600 B.C. The temple. Where the Antiques were more, was dwelled between 600 B.C. and 400 B.C.
Main Buildings:
The temple of Zeus: It was built in the time of satrap Hidrieus who lived between 351 B.C and 344 B.C. The dimensions are 25 x 16 metres and 6 x 11 metres one row columns with Attica.
South and East Entrances: (Propylea) It was also build by Hidrieus and located on the road which joined the Sacred Road with the city,.
The Doric House: It is called thus because of the four Doric style columns in front of the building, built by Hidreus.
The Stadium: It is 176 metres long and the two ends of the building are still whole.