MILAS TOWN (Ancient Mylassa)

Milas is one of the oldest settlements of the Turkomen tribes, the customs and clothing has been retained in the traditional characteristic of the region. In the Milas area carpets unique to the region are woven. It is believed that the carpet making tradition in the region began with the making of prayer mats in the 16th century. The 18th and 19th century carpets from the region are classical (traditional) in their pattern and color and Baroque in style.

The classical types of Milas prayer mats are in the pattern of a prayer niche. The shape of the niche design is an equilateral rectangle. On the top of the niche there is a pattern representing a peak of a minaret and on the inner sides there are stylized plants and figures.

The Ada Milas carpet is one of the oldest examples of Milas carpets, it has side patterns in lines next to each other and in each column the pattern is generally repeated. The carpets that are described as being in the baroque style were produced in the time of Sultan Abdulmecit, a time when there was a heavy influence of Europe on Ottoman arts and architecture. These carpets are marked with zigzag lines rather than straight ones and flower patterns on the sides. It took its name from the stylized pattern of a bouquet of carnations that was placed on one branch.

Another type of carpet famous in the Milas region are those that depict medallions. These carpets were made in several rectangular sizes, square and hexagonal. The Karacahisar Halisi style of carpet is in this group and still produced in the village of Karacahisar.

In the making of Milas carpets pure wool has been used since the 18th century. The carpets are colored with natural plant and root dyes. These types of carpets are still being woven in places such as Comlekci, Karacahisar, Oren, Dorttepe, Gereme, Bozalan, Ikizkoy, Pinarkoy, Mezgit, Gurcegiz, Akcakaya and many other villages in the region too numerous to mention.