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Izmir - Miletus
Miletus is near the village of Balat, 42 kms from Soke, a county of the province Aydin. This place initially was founded during the 2nd millennium 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 Mentese. It comprises a courtyard and rooms for lodging. The lower floor of the two storied building was used as stables, and the upper floor to lodge travelers. 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.
Izmir - Priene
The historical town of Priene is located near the village of Gullubahce, 16 kms from Soke. 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 Boole 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 reach( 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 various sports.
Izmir- Didyma
The Apollo temple of Didyma, located wit] in the boundaries of the village of Yeni Hisar in the Soke 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 d finite evidence could be found, this theory also remains as a myth. The first excavation in Didyma were made in 1858. The area excavated was the Sacred Road. From the excavations it was understood that the road was 16,5 kms long. The width of the road which was made of stone blocks, changed between 5 and 7 meters. On both sides of i were rows of shops, votive fountains, moon mental tombs, baths, and the area for the cult of Artemis. The Delphinion is accepted as the starting point of the Sacred Road connecter Miletus and Didyma. The Apollo Temple 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, altar, a sacred source, a cult statue and the symbols of Apollo. The construction of The, Hellenistic Didymaion was begun in 313 B and it was erected over the Archaic temple which was burned and destroyed in 494 B( The donations of Alexander the Great and King Seleucus I of Syria were of great help 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 shelter. This right which was termed "the Right 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 temp not being considered among the seven won dens of the world is related by the authorities to its not having been completed.
