EPHESUS
A
visit to Efes (Ephesus) - once the commercial center of the ancient world
- is a highlight of any visit to Turkey The city, whose wealth and patronage
supported its splendid architectural program, was dedicated to the goddess
Artemis. Her enormous temple, once considered one of the Seven Wonders
of the Ancient World and rebuilt several times, dates in its latest form
from the third century B.C. The ruins also include a theater, gymnasium,
agora and baths, as well as the Library of Celsus. The nearby town of Selcuk
is dominated by a Byzantine citadel which stands close to the 6th century
basilica of St. John built on the site of the Apostle's tomb. The 14th
century Isa Bey Mosque, next to the basilica is accessed through its typical
Seljuk portal. 
The
Archaeological Museum houses an impressive collection of statues and other
finds recovered during the excavations of Ephesus. The nearby Turkish Bath
Museum , built in the 16th century, shows Turkish life at the hamam (bath).
The Ephesus International Festival is held annually in May. It is recorded
that St. John brought the Virgin Mary to Ephesus after the death of Christ
and that she spent her last days in a small house (Meryemana Evi) built
for her on Bulbuldagi (Mt. Koressos). Now a popular place of pilgrimage
for Christians and Muslims the house has received the official sanction
of the Vatican, and Christians observe a commemoration ceremony every year
on August 15th. Near Selcuk in Camlik is a TCDD Open-air Steam Locomotives
Museum. 9 km east of Selcuk is Sirince, known for its traditional 19th-century
village houses, some of which have been converted into guest-houses. Wine
is produced in this small hillside Turkish village, which itself resembles
an open-air museum. 18 km from Selcuk are wine-houses, for tasting the
wines.
AYDIN
The province's
capital, also called Aydin, enjoys a widespread reputation for its fine
figs. Known as Tralleis in ancient times, it was at the center of a celebrated
sculpture school. The remains seen today date from the second century A.
D. After 1186 the town came under Seljuk rule, and the local museum displays
artifacts from the different periods of its history.
KUSADASI
Back
along the coast, Kusadasi, or Bird Island, is a lovely port built along
the shores of a glittering bay The terraced town overlooks the most beautiful
inlet of the Aegean and seems to have been created purely for the delight
of the holiday-maker. Be sure to visit the famous and popular Kus shopping
center in the Kaleici quarter, where there is nightlong entertainment.
A large, modern marina facilitates life for visiting yachters. Tusan-Kustur
Beach, north of Kusadasi, is one of the cleanest beaches and 23 km south
of Kusadasi is the charming holiday-resort town of Guzelcamli. West of
Guzelcamli and 30 km from Kusadasi, is the Dilek Peninsula National Park,
and a visit is a must for those with the time. Here amidst incredibly beautiful
surroundings are some of the most wonderful views and some of the rarest
wild animals in Turkey, including the Anatolian cheetah and some of Turkey's
last wild horses. The park is a wildlife preserve and a haven for many
species of animals and birds. The exquisite Menderes River valley, known
in the West as the Meander, has been the cradle of many civilizations.
Set amidst pine, olive and oleander trees, the magnificent Camici (Bafa)
Lake is a lovely place to stop over. Tourists can choose between guesthouses
or campsites. To the east of the lake rise the five peaks of the Besparmak
Mountains. The Iconoclastic priests who came here to live, from Constantinople,
built monasteries, churches, and chapels around the base of the mountains
and on the lake's islands. The ruins of the ancient city of Heraklia lie
close to the lake, while the remains of Alinda are found on the eastern
slopes of the Besparmak Mountains. The valley has witnessed the rise and
fall of several great cities, notably Priene, Miletos, Didyma, Aphrodisias,
and Hierapolis. This peaceful national reserve is an excellent place for
bird-watchers, hikers, naturelovers and photographers. Gullubahce (Priene)
was one of the most active ports of the Ionian Federation. The grid like
system (as in NYC) of streets introduced in the fourth century B.C. by
Hippodamos of Miletos is a superb and early example of town planning. Milet
(Miletos), like Priene, was a great Ionian port and the birthplace of several
philosophers and sages. The theater justifies a visit, and be sure to see
the well-preserved ruins of the Faustina baths and the Archaeological Museum.
Although Didim (Didyma) can only boast of a single monument, it is nevertheless
a marvelous site. The Temple of Apollo was one of antiquity's most sacred
places. Many times looted and burned, the sanctuary still impresses with
its elegant beauty A portico of double colonnades surround the colossal
temple. Not far from the archaeological site, the beautiful beach of Altinkum
tempts with its many guest houses. Akbük is another holiday resort
in the region with nice beach hotels. Although the history of Geyre (Aphrodisias)
stretches back in time, the city, which was dedicated to Aphrodite, goddess
of love and fertility, rose to prominence in the first century B.C. Some
of the richest treasures of ancient times were uncovered in the excavations
of this city The public buildings are handsomely adorned with marble that
was carved with astonishing skill, producing remarkable temples, monuments,
baths, a theater and a magnificent stadium. The reputation of the city's
craftsmen for the exquisite finesse of their statuary and marble sculpting
spread through the civilized world, and Aphrodisias became the center of
the greatest sculpting school of antiquity. Many of its marvelous works
of art are now housed in the local museum. The theater and bouleuterion
are among the city's best-preserved ruins. About 35 kilometers east of
Aydin lies Sultanhisar, host to an Art and Culture Festival every spring.
Nearby, in the quiet of the olive trees, are the ruins of ancient Nysa,
famous in the second century A. D. as an educational center.
MILETUS
Miletus
is near the village of Balat, 42 kms from Söke, a county of the province
Aydin. This place initially was founded during the 2nd millenium B.C. on
the coast of the Latmic Gulf ( now Lake Bafa ). The town became one of
the most important of the twelve cities bordering the Aegean Sea, which
formed the Ionian Confederation. The Theatre, erected on the south-west
slopes of the hill of Kaletepe, profiting from the natural inclination,
is the best preserved building of Miletus. First erected in the 4th century
BC it has taken its present form by later alterations undergone in the
Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods. The theatre, which could seat
5,300 spectators in the Hellenistic period, reached a capacity of 25,000
seats in the Roman period. The Caravanserai was built in the 15th century
during the period of the Principality of Mente?e. It comprises a courtyard
and rooms for lodging. The lower floor of the two stored building was used
as stables, and the upper floor to lodge travellers. The Faustina Baths,
understood from inscriptions found during excavations to have been built
by the wife of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, Faustina, was named after her.
A greater part of the baths has been uncovered and consists of the dressing-room,
cold-room, warm-room, hot-room, steam-room, boiler-room and exercise area.
The Byzantine Church shows characteristics of two different periods. Initially
built under Emperor Diocletian, the church was rebuilt in the beginning
of the 6th century AD in larger proportions. It was established from excavations
that the church was built over Hellenistic houses.
PRIENE
The
historical town of Priene is located near the village of Güllübahçe,
16 kms from Söke. This town, a member of the Ionian Confederation,
especially prospered during the Hellenistic period. The beautiful houses,
public buildings and temples are the most important parts of this ancient
city. The city walls surrounding Priene were 2 meters wide and 6 meters
high. The front and rear faces of the walls were built of squared stone
blocks while the space in between was filled up with rubble and mud. This
construction technique, called "emplekton" is characteristic of the Hellenistic
period. The Athena Temple, located on the culminating point of the city,
was the oldest, most important and magnificent building in Priene. The
architect of the building was Pythius, who also constructed the Mausoleum
of Halicarnassus, counted as one of the Seven Wonders of the world. The
temple is accepted as being a classical example of the Anatolian-Ionian
architectural style. The Agora, an important place in the daily life of
ancient cities, where meetings were held to discuss various subjects, was
built in the 3rd Century B.C., and covers two blocks in the central part
of the city. The Bouleuterion is the best preserved building in Priene.
The Boule held its meetings here and took the decisions relating to the
administration of the city. The Theatre, built in the 4th century B.C.
in Hellenistic style, has reached the present day in a well preserved condition.
Like all ancient Greek theatres, the building consists of three main parts:
the Skene, the Orchestra, and the Cavea. There were two Gymnasiums in Priene,
the "Upper Gymnasium" and the "Lower Gymnasium". In these buildings, children
and young people, besides receiving education, were also trained in physical
exercises by the practice of various sports.
DIDYMA
The
Apollo Temple of Didyma, located within the boundaries of the village of
Yeni Hisar in the Söke district of the province of Aydin, was known
as a sanctuary and seat of an oracle attached to Miletus. Recent excavations
revealed remains which showed that Didyma was not only a seat of an oracle
but also the site of dense settlement. The research concerning the origins
of the names of Didyma and Didymaion has been a subject of discussion.
Along with several other myths, it was thought that the name Didymaion,
which meant "twin temples", was related to Artemis, the twin sister of
Apollo. However, as no definite evidence could be found, this theory also
remains as a myth. The first excavations in Didyma were made in 1858. The
area excavated was the Sacred Road. From the excavations it was understood
that the road was 16,5km long. The width of the road which was made of
stone blocks, changed between 5 and 7 metres. On both sides of it were
rows of shops, votive fountains, monumental tombs, baths, and the area
for the cult of Artemis. The Delphinion is accepted as the starting point
of the Sacred Road connecting Miletus and Didyma. The Apollo Temple of
Didyma, which according to Pausinas, had existed before the 10th century
BC, was built at the end of the 8th century BC. The small and simple temple
contained a secos, an altar, a sacred source, a cult statue and the symbols
of Apollo. The construction of The Hellenistic Didymaion was begun in 313
BC, and it was erected over the Archaic temple which was burned and destroyed
in 494 BC. The donations of Alexander the Great and of King Seleucus I
of Syria were of great help in the rebuilding of the Didymaion. The Didymaion
emerges as the third largest edifice of the Hellenistic period. Besides
being for centuries a very important oracle seat, the Didymaion was also
renowned for its sacred water, sacred grove, the many sacred elements it
housed, and its wealth. One other feature of the Didymaion was that it
had the right to shelter. This right which was termed "the Light of Asylum",
was the recognition of the right of inviolability to people who took refuge
in the temple. The reason for this extremely impressive and magnificent
temple not being considered among the seven wonders of the world is related
by the authorities to its not having been completed.
