Assos (Behramkale) The most important feature of the coastal villages of Ayvacık is that they are located in the high parts of the hills that run parallel to the shore starting from Adatepe. Behram (Assos) appears in the middle of our villages lined up like a necklace along the south of Ayvacık with its dazzling beauty like a diamond. It is the only village in the world that continues to live in the ancient city ruins.

Assos is an ancient city built on a 238-meter-high basalt hill on the south coast of the Troas region, in the west of Old Anatolia. Its ruins can be seen around Behram Village. Satnioeis (Tuzla Stream) flows on the northern skirt of the hill.

Assos was founded by Aiolians from the city of Methymna in Lesbos (Lesbos) island. It was under the sovereignty of the Lydians in BC 560-547 and the Persians in BC 547-479. After gaining independence, he became a member of the Attica Sea Union. An oligarchic government was established in Assos in 405 BC. When the Phrygian satrap Ariobarzanes revolted against the Persian King in 366 BC, he united with Eubulos Ariobarzanes, a great banker and businessman, and conquered the entire coastal region from Atarneus to Assos. When the enemies of Ariobarzanes, Lydian satrap Autophradates and Karia satrap Maussollos, besieged Assos, Eubulos successfully defended the city. In the end, the siege was lifted with the intervention of the Spartan King Agesilaos.

In 350 BC, the administration of Assos passed into the hands of Hermias. Hermias is a castrated slave of Eubulos; but because he was very talented, Eubulos sent him to Athens for education. Hermias became Plato’s student there and made friendship with Aristotle. After returning to Anatolia, he became a partner and friend of Eubulos in both money and government affairs. Hermias gave the city of Assos as a gift to Plato’s students Erastos and Koriskos; They also established a philosophy school there, and they had an impact on Hermias in the state administration. After Plato’s death, upon the invitation of Hermias, Aristotle came to Assos with Xenocrates and established the first philosophy school there. In this way, Assos became an important center of Greek contemplative life during the three years Aristotle stayed there (347-345). Kleanthes (330,231), the second president of Kıstoa School, was born in Assos.

After the death of Hermias (342 BC) Assos was again under the sovereignty of the Persians, was rescued by Alexander the Great in 334 BC, after that, like the whole Troas region, it was under the sovereignty of various rulers. and with the whole Kingdom of Pergamum, it was captured by the Romans in 333 BC. Although the name Assos does not appear in history after that, it did not lose its importance. Assos was called Makhramion in the Byzantine period, its present name Behram comes from there.

The importance of Assos is that it dominates the road from Alexandreia Troas to Adramytteion and from there to Bergama. Therefore, the city has been well fortified since the earliest times. The city walls and gates, most of which are well preserved, are BC IV and III. It was built in the centuries; these can be considered a brilliant example of Greek fortification art. Among the other buildings, the importance of the Temple of Athena, which is located at the highest point of the city hill, is worth mentioning. There are also the ruins of a theater, a gymnasium and a stoa on the northern edge of the agora. Remains of the old breakwater can still be seen from the seaside. In the West Acropolis, a street with graves on both sides catches the eye. In addition, many grave monuments are located on this street.
Assos (Behramkale) Assos (Behramkale Pier) When looking at the sea from the hill where the Temple of Athena rises, the underwater remains of the ancient pier can be easily seen. Considering the religious and political connection between Lesbos (Midilli) and Assos; It should not be hard to guess that this is a busy port. The pier, built in place of the sunken ancient harbor, has lost its old mobility in history, but continues to fascinate its visitors with its beauty. Until the eighties, the pier was used for the shipments of bonito, and the structures here were used as acorn holders, but today both of them operate for tourism purposes.