If you are a history and archaeology lover like me, you can extend your stay in Aegean Coast to see wonderful ancient sites. You are in the region of ancient Ionia and the most important places to see listed below.
Pergamum was an ancient Greek city on
the north side of the river Caicus and named in the book of Revelations as one
of the seven churches of Asia (Revelation 2:12). Today, the main site of
ancient Pergamon is near the small coastal resort of Bergama.
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| Greek Style Theatre of Pergamon |
Asklepion was built in the
name of Aesculapius, the god of Health and Medicine. It contains ancient sites
such as a small theater with a capacity for 3,500 people, rooms where patients
were cured, the temple
of Asklepion and the
library.
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| Aesculapius |
Priene was formerly on the sea
coast, built overlooking the ocean on steep slopes and terraces. Today, after
several centuries of changes in the landscape, it is an inland site. Priene
possessed a great deal of famous Hellenistic art and architecture. It is
believed around 4 to 5 thousand inhabitants occupied the region.
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| Priene |
Miletus is located near Akköy at the mouth of the Meander
River. It was one of the largest cities in Anatolia with a population of
between 80,000 and 100,000. Highly prosperous, it was the home of the 6 BC philosophers Anaximander, Anaximenes and Thales,
the town planner Hippodamus and architect of Hagia Sophia, Isidorus. Having a
prominent position, Miletus became the most important port in
this area and it was the most active member of the twelve cities of the Ionian
Confederation.
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| Miletus |
Didyma: The word Didyma
means "twins" and it was associated by some as being the meeting
place of Zeus and Leto to have their twins Apollo and Artemis. Didyma was famed
as a prophecy center dedicated to Apollo, which served a similar purpose as the
Delphi of Anatolia. It was not a city but a sanctuary linked to Miletus by Milesians with
a 19 km sacred road.
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| Temple of Didyma |
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