Other names: Cyramos, Hyramos, Ayaklı
As you head out of Milas towards Söke you will pass the impressive ruins of a seemingly half-finished Temple of Zeus right beside the road near the small town of Selimiye.
The temple was once the centrepiece of the city of Euromos, which dated back to the sixth century B.C. but grew steadily to reach the height of its importance under the Romans. In Carian times it is believed to have been second in importance only to Mylasa (Milas). It’s thought that the Emperor Hadrian (r. 117-138) sponsored the building of the temple, although some of the 16 surviving Corinthian columns remain unfluted, which suggests that money may have run out before the work could be completed.
This is one of the most complete surviving Roman temples in Asia Minor and what is so odd is that there should be so much left of this and so little left of everything else of Euromos. If you follow the signs pointing to the city walls you will come only to the slightest of remnants while on the far side of the wall only a few tiers of seating survive from the old theatre.
Regardless, the ruins look very picturesque in their isolation.
As you walk back to the road look out on the left of the path for some broken sarcophagi partially embedded in the ground and for a twin-vaulted structure behind them in a field, its purpose unclear. On the right-hand side of the path are the remains of what look likes a temple platform.
Transport info
Take any bus from Milas heading for Selimiye or Söke and ask to be dropped off at the ruins, clearly signed Euromos. It’s about a 200m walk from the road to the temple.
Even using public transport it’s easy to combine a visit to Euromos with one to the ruins of İasos at Kıyıkislacık
