The name of the place comes from "Labrys", the holy double axe, which was worshipped before the Carians by the Cretans, the Hittites, and allegedly the Amazons.

Labranda, the sanctuary of Carian Zeus Stratios or Labraundos, flourished during the reign of King Mausolos and his brother Idrieus. It was connected to the capital Mylasa (Milas) by a 14 km long cult road.
Labranda, famous for its refreshing and curative spring water, was also the site of a fish oracle. The "media" swam in a square basin and could answer questions with "yes" or "no", depending on whether they accepted or refused offered food.
The oldest parts of Labranda date back to the 7th century BC. Most of the buildings that can be seen today were erected between 377 and 344 BC under Mausolos and Idrieus. Later Mausolos moved his residence to Halikarnassos (Bodrum).
After the death of Idrieus, the decline of the local cult began and Labranda fell into oblivion over time.

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