Asia Minor is home to an abundance of historic Medieval fortifications. The Castle of Saint Peter (Petronium), located in the southwestern Turkish city of Bodrum, is a prime example. Built by the Knights Hospitaller in response to the threat of invasion by the Seljuk Turks at the beginning of the 1400s, its location has been a fortified site since 1100 BC. It is also the probable site of the King of Caria's Palace of Mausolos.
As was a common practice of the period, marble columns and reliefs from the nearby ancient structures were used during the construction of the castle. Unfortunately this included materials from the Mausoleum of Maussollos, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Although a few sculptures from the mausoleum were integrated into the castle for decoration, which justify a visit, in less than a century and a half, all remaining portions of the mausoleum had been demolished, removed or used as a building materials.
Within the castle walls, each regional sub-group of the Order had its own tower, each with its own distinct style. Hundreds of coats of arms and unique marks are scattered throughout the fortification -- symbols signifying areas assigned for maintenance and defence. Sub-orders were responsible for manning these areas with sufficient numbers of their soldiers and knights.For over a century Saint Peter's Castle was an important castle of the Order and it served as a fortified refuge for all Asia Minor's Christian community. Today, given Bodrum's hot summers and mild winters, it is a perfect refuge for the intrepid traveller.
