The settlement site, a 234 m high rock of dark trachyte directly at the sea, was already inhabited in the Bronze Age. In the 7th century BC Assos was founded from Methymna on the neighbouring island of Lesbos. The city was a member of the Attisch-Delischer Seebund, but apparently played no role in the Greek-Persian conflicts of the 5th and 4th centuries BC. It was only in the Satrap revolt that it became important, here the rebellious Satrap Ariobarzanes entrenched himself in 366 B.C..
Since about 360 B.C. it was under the rule of Eubulos and his successor Hermeias. Aristotle also lived in Assos during this time. 334-241 B.C. the city was located in the dominion of Alexander the Great and the subsequent Seleucids. 241-133 B.C. Assos belonged to the Attalid Empire of Pergamum before it became part of the Roman Empire. In 1306 the Greeks were still able to defend the fortress of Assos, which was only in the area of the old Acropolis, against the Ottomans, but shortly afterwards the settlement passed into their possession.

The city wall is still very well preserved in its extent of 3 km with towers and gates in large parts. It was built in many construction phases from the 3rd century B.C. to the Byzantine period. Next to it, remains of a probably still archaic city wall are visible.

The Doric temple of Athena at the highest point of the city hill was built around 530-520 BC. Some of the columns made of native trachyte, which were covered with white marble stucco in antiquity, were partially restored as part of archaeological research.
The Temple of Athena is the only known archaic temple of Doric order in Asia Minor. From here you have a good view of the opposite island Lesbos.

In the city area, on the slopes between the Agora and the sea, the Agora with its two-sided halls, the Buleuterion, the Gymnasion, the theatre and a Roman thermal baths are still preserved today. Outside the city wall is a well-preserved necropolis with tombs and sarcophagi.

Mosque next to a watchtower of the city fortification

At the edge of today's village stands a mosque from the time of Murat I. (1326-1389), thus one of the earliest Ottoman mosques ever. It was built using numerous antique and Byzantine spoils.