MYLASA, or MYLASSA, in Ancient Geography, a noble
city of Caria, in Asia Minor, situated about three leagues
from the Sinus Cæramicus. It was the capital of Heca-
tomnus, king of Caria, and father of Mausolus. Pliny,
speaking of Menander king of Caria, says that the Rho-
dians preserved with the greatest care his portrait painted
by Apelles. But it was not in honour of this Menander
that a Corinthian pillar was erected at Mylasa, which still
exists, and on which is to be seen the following inscrip-
tion: "The people erected this pillar in honour of Me-
nander, the son of Uliades, and grandson of Euthydemus,
the benefactor of his country, and whose ancestors also
rendered it great services." Caria was taken by Mithri-
dates, and afterwards by Labienus, whose father had been
one of Cæsar's generals. Hybrias, whose eloquence and
valour deservedly entitled him to a distinguished rank
amongst his countrymen, in vain encouraged them to make
an obstinate defence whilst it was besieged by the latter.
He himself was obliged to yield to necessity, and to take
refuge at Rhodes; but scarcely had the conqueror quitted
the city, when Hybrias returned and restored liberty to
his country; and, not content with rendering it this ser-
vice, he also destroyed the power of a dangerous citizen,
whose riches and talents had rendered him a necessary
evil. Euthydemus, often banished, and as often recalled,
but always too powerful in a state the independence of
which he threatened, saw his ambition checked by the zeal
and activity of Hybrias. The Romans left to Mylasa that
liberty of which it rendered itself so worthy by the great
efforts it made to preserve it. Pliny calls it Mylasa libe-
ra; and Strabo informs us that it was one of the most
magnificent cities of antiquity, the temples, porticoes, and
other public monuments of which were highly admired.
This city is now called Melasso. When Pococke visited
this place it was perfect and entire; but at present no
traces of it remain.