HISTORY AND MISSION
Akademia Foundation was founded in Bodrum in 1994 by academics, politicians and businessmen from Turkey and other Mediterranean countries. Among our founders are notable names such as our country's first female governor, Lale Aytaman Erdal İnönü, Fikri Sağlar, İsmet Sezgin and Yiğit Gülöksüz, as well as academics from Greece, Egypt, Lebanon and Israel.
Mediterranean Countries Academy Foundation, known locally as Akademia Foundation, carries out academic projects related to historical and cultural awareness in the Mediterranean region. These projects include education, social awareness and archaeological excavations related to promoting cultural and historical awareness.
Academic studies in the field of archaeology and history cannot become "culture" in society if they are not communicated to the public. The mission is to contribute to the establishment and ongoing development of this culture in society.
In accordance with this mission, the founder of the Akdemia Foundation has carried out comprehensive and international projects such as the restitution and restoration of the Bodrum historical courthouse, the allocation of a university campus area in the Bodrum Peninsula, local government habitat conferences, an international tourism health symposium, and the Bodrum Peninsula Strategic Development Plan. Upon invitation, a presentation was given at the United Nations regarding the “Habitat Koza project”, an initiative involving NGOs to improve city planning and develop sustainability.
Akademia Foundation primarily focuses on bringing accessible ideas of social memory, history, archaeology, culture and art to the local community in Bodrum and the surrounding region. Our main aim is to create social and cultural awareness within these themes within the academic world. This is achieved through projects and events based on its motto of “does not love without knowing, does not protect without loving”.
Promoting understanding of the significance of ancient Halicarnassos, an important cultural and artistic city of the Mediterranean region, is a central and ongoing project. Akademia Foundation holds conferences, symposiums, exhibitions, competitions in schools, and releases book publications for the community, so as to promote Bodrum and the region’s historical and cultural heritage
Bodrum has hosted at least 2400 years of community life. Known as Halicarnassos in ancient times, the settlement started with the Lelegians migrating south after the destruction of Troy in 1200 BCE. This continued with the Carians, the Persian Empire, Alexander the Great’s conquest, the Roman Empire, Byzantium and Turkish domination, and it has continued until today. During this 2400-year period, traces of cultural heritage with discoveries of archaeological monuments and artifacts have survived to the present day.
Bodrum’s cultural treasures, which are also its proud assets as a centre of tourism, include Herodotus, the world's first female admiral Artemisia I, King Mausollos’ Mausoleum, the world's largest underwater archaeology museum and the oldest shipwreck exhibition.
However, there are hidden treasures below Bodrum city centre. A Classical period 180-metre-long ancient stadium is unfortunately buried under an industrial site. A unique Mars Temple built 2400 years ago shares its location with a scrap dealer. The sacred area of Mausoleum, one of the seven wonders of the World, was excavated over 40 years ago with minimal updates to its museum information. The Agora now has a parking lot and school situated on it. Bodrum’s valuable historical assets remain disregarded and hidden.
Akademia foundation is striving to create social awareness of the value of our cultural heritage. These values are not just cultural values, but are of vital importance for sustainable tourism development expanding tourism into the winter months, thereby increasing prosperity for Bodrum as a whole.
THE AKADEMIA BUILDING AND GARDENS
The Foundation operates from the renovated old Bodrum court house. The original construction date of the building is the mid-19th century (1850-1860), as stated by Triantafillou Michael, the third generation grandson of the original owner.
After the Greek-Turkish exchange, the building changed hands and served the public for many years. It served the local community as the Bodrum Courthouse, the Bodrum Tax Office, and the Tax Office Archive Building. In 1988, it was damaged by fire, as documented in photographs. It was seriously damaged as a result of this fire, and was reduced to four heavily damaged walls. The building was allocated to the Akademia Foundation in 1994. The floor decoration at the entrance of the building still has the initials of the family who built the house It was then restored to its current state under an approved project in 1997. It has continued to serve as the Foundation building since then.
It is the responsibility of Akademia Foundation to respectfully maintain the upkeep of this historical building, which has witnessed Bodrum's history. The Foundation is mindful that the building and its gardens are an integral part of the activities held there every year in its mission to raise the historical and cultural awareness of Bodrum, Halikarnassos and the region.
CULTURE AND ART CENTRE
Akademia Foundation organizes cultural and art events in its building and garden every year in the summer and winter months, bringing together academics alongside Bodrum residents.
Bodrum history lovers obtain detailed information about the historical studies carried out in their regions through seminars personally conducted by the excavation directors of all historical sites in the Carian region. The foundation hosts many academic speakers on historical and archaeological studies that are followed with interest in Bodrum and also other regions of Turkey.
Philosophy, too, is an important academic topic at Akademia Foundation. Every summer, leading philosophers of our country come together in the gardens of the foundation to discuss philosophy and hold talks in pursuit of humanity's desire to understand the meaning of life.
Akademia Foundation brings together Bodrum art lovers by opening sole and group exhibitions of many national and international artists in the exhibition hall in its garden during the summer months. The foundation brings together many artists working in different branches of art such as painting, sculpture, and engraving. Bodrum’s art community can enjoy such free of charge activities in the center of Bodrum throughout the summer. Artist workshops are also organized in the winter months.
The Akademia Foundation, which organizes workshops in the fields of history, philosophy, archaeology, and art in the winter months, is proud to contribute to the development of Bodrum's cultural richness.
