Alinda Ruins
Located in Karpuzlu District of Aydın Province, Alinda is one of the important Carian cities. Alinda can be reached by a 26 km. road departing from the 30th km. of the Aydın - Muğla highway. Although there is not much information about Alinda, according to Strabo; Ada, the daughter of Hecatomnos, was expelled from Halicarnassus by her brother Prixodaros and retreated to Alinda in 340 BC and made this city her capital. Alinda was called Alexandria for a while. During this period, the city of Alinda adopted the Greek cult. The city, which continued its importance in the Roman period, printed money in its own name until the 3rd century AD. During the Byzantine period, Alinda became the episcopal center of the Metropolis of Aphrodisias.
The city of Alinda is surrounded by a city wall. The city walls are made of local granite stone. The well-preserved city walls are supported by towers in places. The aqueducts supplying water to the city are also preserved in places. The aqueduct to the west of the acropolis has round arches sitting on four legs. The most important building in Alinda that survives today is the Agora. To the south of the rectangular structure is the market building, the upper floor of which is organized as a stoa. The structure extending in the east-west direction has three floors. The theater is located on the southwest skirt of the acropolis. The theater of Alinda was built on a natural slope and the cave facing southeast is well preserved. The theater, whose stage building was completely destroyed, has Hellenistic period features. The theater was also used with additions during the Roman period. There are two temple foundations on the acropolis, of which only the plan is clear. Carian type sarcophagi among the houses of Karpuzlu are a document that the necropolis of Alinda was concentrated on the southern skirt of the city.
