|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Travel Ephesus |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Around Ephesus |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Miletos |
|
| |
|
|
| |
 The
remains of the city of Miletus is approximately 40
km to the south of Soke (a towncenter of Aydin
City). Infact Miletus was a port city 2,000 years
ago. The aluvions caried into the bay by Buyuk
Menderes river over a very long period of time
filled the bay and the nearby coast and caused the
city to loose touch with the sea. This brought the
inevitable end of the city.
It is the most prominent of all Ionian cities. The original founders of
the city is not known exactly. According to Homer,
as he mentioned in IIliad, Miletus was founded by
Carians. On the other hand, the famous geographer
Strabon claimed that the founder of the city were
Cretans. There are signs which indicate that the
history of the settlement into the city goes back to
the neolithic ages.
The great historian Herodotus was saying that the Ionians under the
leadership of Neilos, conquered Miletus , whose
inhabitants were Carians and Cretans, in the 11th
century. This event points to the beginning of the
recorded history of the city. In a short time
Miletus became prosperous. As a port, commercial
importance of the city growed immediately. The city
people established 70 colonies around the various
regions of Anatolia.
The city became an important Ionian center of arts, science and culture.
The historians Anaximander, Aneximenes, the
philosopher of the nature Thales ( mathematician,
physicist and also a merchant), the geographers
Kadmos and Hecataeus all lived in Miletus at the
same time.
This first phase of the Miletan civilization was ended by Persians at 494
B.C. In 474 B.C. and onward it was reconstructed
according to the plans of famous architect
Hippodamos. In a short time Miletus became a
prosperous place again.
Persians invaded Ionia and naturally Miletus once more in the 5th
century. The destruction ruined the city until
Alexander the Great claimed all Anatolia from
Persians in the 4th century B.C. Miletus was
reconstructed once more.
The city reached to another peak after 2nd century B.C. as it became an
integral part of the Roman Empire. Emperors Augustus
and Hadrian filled the city with monuments and
statues. St. Paul gave sermons here and sailed to
Jerusalem later.
During Byzantine age Miletus became a residence to archbishops. The small
Byzantine castle called Castro Palation which is on
the hill, beside the city was built at this time.
Seljuk Turks settled into the city in the 12th century A.D. and used
Miletos as a port to trade with Venice.
Finally, Ottomans utilized the city as an harbour during their rule in
Anatolia for a while. As the harbour became silted
up, the city was abandoned. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Ephesus Yesterday & Today |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
