Didim Live - Sightseeing

Add To Favorites

Classifieds

Didim City Guide

Sightseeing - Miletus

Miletus is located (an hour away from Didim) in the city of Söke's Balat village. In ancient times it was on the western coast of Anatolia (currently the Province of Aydin), near the Maeander River in ancient Caria.

Miletus was one of the most famous of Ionian harbours. In Hittite records its name was Millawandash. It was famous during the classical period which the scholars called "fusiolog". Herodotus wrote that it was founded by the Cretans and Carians. It was also an important Micanean colony towards the middle of 2000 B.C.

Geology

During the Pleistocene epoch the Miletus was submerged in the Aegean Sea. Consequently, it emerged slowly, the sea reached a low level of about below present level at approximately 18,000 BP. The site of Miletus was part of the mainland. A gradual rise brought a level of about below present at approximately 5500 BP, creating several karst block islands of limestone, the location of the first settlements at Miletus.

At about 1500 BCE the karst shifted due to small crustal movements and the islands consolidated into a peninsula. Since then, the sea rose 1.75 m but the peninsula has been surrounded by sediment from the Maeander River and is now land-locked. Sedimentation of the harbour began at about 1000 BCE and by 300 CE, Lake Bafa had been created.

History of Miletus

In the 7th century B.C. the Miletus people had founded about 90 colonies in the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions. Unfortunately, after its destruction by the armies of Darius in 494 B.C. it was reconstructed and was under Persian rule for two centuries.

With the conquest of Alexander The Great it became one of the greatest metropolis of Aegean Anatolia and throughout the Roman period as well.

Yet, in the Byzantine period, despite the fact that the sea had withdrawn, the commercial port could still be used thanks to the ships which sailed through the Menderes River. This was because the remains of the antique buildings resembled palaces. It was known as Palatia for certain period of time and during the last days of Byzantine rule it became a shelter of pirates.

Then, in the 8th century it was converted into a Turkish town by the Mentese principality and named Balat. Although it went through a period of splendour during the rule of Menteseogullari and then gradually it lost its importance. In the 18th century it turned into a small village and the village mentioned was moved elsewhere after the 1955 earthquake.

Archaeological Excavations

The first excavations in Miletus were conducted by the French archaeologist Olivier Rayet in 1873, followed by the German archaeologist Theodor Wiegand in 1899. Then in 1939 the work was continued by Carl Weickerd. But these were interrupted several times by wars and various other events. Today, excavations are organized by the Ruhr University of Bochum, Germany.

One of the remarkable artifacts recovered from the city during the first excavations of the 19th century, the Market Gate of Miletus, was transported to Germany and is currently exhibited at the Pergamon museum in Berlin. The main collection of artifacts are at the Miletus Museum in Didim, Aydin, which was founded in 1973.

The Ruins

On arrival to the ruins the magnificent theatre of the city can be seen. The theatre was constructed during the Hellenistic period. It acquired its present characteristics by means of the annexes made during the Roman period. The wonderful stone workmanship of walls of the front facade of the theatre are 140 m long and 30 m high. The theatre used to be able to hold 24.000 people, and a fortress was built upon it during the Byzantine period which seized its capacity to 15.000 people.

To the opposite of the theatre is the Selcuk Caravanserai and the baths built for Faustina II., wife of Marcus Aurelius (161-180 A.D.), which are situated adjacent to the theatre. The Temple of Serapis, belonging to the 3rd century A.D., can be seen behind the baths. The rectangular buildings that are seen on one side are warehouse buildings. The adjacent Southern Agora building which has dimensions of 164 x 196 m and is surrounded by stoas, belongs to the 2nd century A.D. and its southern gate is at the museum of Berlin today.

When exiting through the northern gate of the Agora, you will see the Bishop's Church, the Martyrion belonging to the 5th century A.D. beside it, and the ceremonial road which that is 100 m long and 28 m wide, extending in front of the Agora. On the east side of it, is a fountain in the Public Square (Nymphaion) belonging to the 2nd century A.D., and Bouleuterion (the Senate Building) which is opposite it. This building was constructed during the years 175-164 B.C., and the Temple of Asklepios and the Sacred Place are situated by its side. Beside these, the Northern Agora extends along the sacred road and at the right hand side of the sacred road, there is the Gymnasium that belonged to the 2nd century B.C., which the entrance has been brought to an erect position at present.

The baths that Vergilius Capito ordered to be constructed during the time of Claudius, are situated north of the Gymnasium. Some of the baths here were also used during the Selcuk Period. Towards the northern end of the Ceremonial Road, the Harbor Gate which was a passage with 16 columns is situated; and on the east of this road there is Delphinion which is from the Archaic period.

Towards the north from here, the port stoa, the Harbor Monument built in the year 31 B.C., the Small Harbor Monument and the Synagogue are situated on the left hand side. The statues of the lions on both sides of the port were used to block the entrance to the Military Harbour with a chain. On the opposite side, the Roman Baths can be seen. South of Miletus are remains of the Stadium, Western Agora and the Temple of Athena belonging to the 5th c. B.C.

The only ancient Turkish work in Miletus is the Mosque of Ilyas Bey, which was the ruler of the area at that time. The mosque was built in the year 1404 A.D. and it can be visited today.

[ D-Marin Didim · Marina and International Yacht Harbour D-Marin · D-Marin Outlet Centre ]

[ DS Consulting - Sworn & Legal Translators for Didim - Yenihisar · Altinkum · Akbuk · Yesilkent · Mavisehir - Translators for Business Meetings, Conferences, at the Notary, at the Title Deed Office and at all Authorities - Translation of Documents and Contracts ]

[ Didimlive · Webdesign · Hosting · SEO Search Engine Optimization · Online Advertising Services ]

[ Gentle Dental - Estetica Sale Center for Whitening Systems & Leader Implants ]

[ Club Natura Oliva - Natura Hotel · Holiday Village & Club located at Lake Bafa ]

[ The Famous Albatros Boat - Daily Boat Trips and Boat Tours - 5 Bays and 1 Island Boat Trip from Altinkum Harbour - Boat Trips including Lunch - Have a lazy day on one of the best Boats at Altinkum Harbour offering Boat Trips and Daily Boat Tours in Didim and Altinkum - Enjoy Live Music in the Evenings on Altinkums number one Boat: The Albatros Boat ]

[ The Flying Fish - Private Boat Tours and Fishing Trips in Altinkum ]