MILETOS - Milet
Miletos which is
in the vicinity of Söke, was on the seashore in the ancient times. The
Miletos people who had founded about 90 colonies in the Mediterranean and
Black Sea regions, after 650 B.C, had resisted the Persian invasions in
Anatolia, but they were defeated finally and the city was destroyed by
the Persians.
When you arrive at
the zone of the ruins, the magnificent theater of the city appears in sight
at first. The theater had been constructed during the Hellenistic period
and, it acquired its present characteristics by means of the annexes made
during the Roman period. The walls of the front facade of the theater,
are 140 m long and 30 m high, and are an interesting example of stone workmanship.
This theater was large enough to hold 15.000 people, and a fortress was
built upon it during the Byzantine period.
On the opposite side
of the theater there is a Seljukian Caravanserai and the baths that Faustina
the II., wife of Marcus Aurelius (161-180 A.D.) had caused to be constructed,
are situated adjacent to the theater. The Temple of Serapis, belonging
to the 3rd century A.D., is behind the baths. The rectangular buildings
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. |
![Miletos - The ancient sphere](mil.jpg) |
When you go out through
the northern gate of the Agora, you see the Bishop's Church, Martyrion
belonging to the 5th century A.D. beside it, and the ceremonial road which
is 100 m long and 28 m wide, extending in front of the Agora. On the east
side of it, there is the fountain in the Public Square (Nymphaion) belonging
to the 2nd century A.D., and Bouleuterion (the Senate Building) is situated
opposite to it. It is known that this building had been constructed during
the years 175-164 B.C., and the Temple of Asklepios and the Sacred Place
are situated at its side. At the side of these, the Northern Agora extends
along the sacred road and at the right hand side of the sacred road, there
is the Gymnasium belonging to the 2nd century B.C. the entrance of which
has been brought to an erect position at present.
![History and Sea](im2.jpg) |
The baths that Vergilius
Capito had ordered to be constructed during the time of Claudius, are situated
north of the Gymnasium; and some of these baths were used during the Seljukian
Period. at the northern end of the Ceremonial Road, the Port Gate which
was a passage with 16 columns is situated; and on the east of this |
road there is Delphinion which is a work of the Archaic
period. When you go towards the north from here, the port stoa, the Port
Monument built in the year 31 B.C., the Small Port Monument and the Synagogue
are located at the left hand side. The statues of the lions which watch
over the port can be seen here; on the opposite side, the Roman Baths are
seen.
The remains of the
Stadium, Western Agora and the Temple of Athena belonging to the 5th century
B.C., are located south of Miletos. The only ancient Turkish work in Miletos
is the Mosque of Ilyas Bey. The mosque was built in the year 1404 A.D.
and it can be visited today.
WARS: DESTINY OF ANATOLIA |