Labranda (I think Labraunda may be the more usual name) refers to labrys (=double bladed axe). It has an ancient history, but was conquered by the Persians (after the nearby Milas) and had to be rebuilt. This was done by the satrap Mausolos (377-353 v. Chr.) and his two brothers after him. He saw it as his ancestral sacred shrine. In the Wikipedia it is suggested there existed a golden double axe in Priene that somehow got in the hands of the Labranda people, who kept it in the Temple of Zeus Labraundos.

The setting is beautiful, high up in the hills. You have great views over those hills, and if you are in luck the very friendly guard will show you around. To be the only visitor (as I was in March 2007) is an experience not easily forgotten. The more usual visit seems to be: arrive by bus, be shown around in 20 minutes, and off you go.

I show roughly my walk over the site: arrive, gradually climb till the grave higher up, and then down again. In 2015 I returned, and made approximately the same tour, but taking very many more pictures, combining some into panoramas (and yet showing the individual pictures). You may notice that spring is a better time for a visit, though the flowers tend to push the archaeology aside. I was advancing well with the captions when I came across a really excellent site (from which I borrowed some texts, though most texts are from notices on site). In 2020 I put names to almost all pictures, and collected some (a decent amoun to get an idea)in sub-gallies. However, I kept them also in the general gallery, so you can still make the virtual walk .