Miletus
Discover Ancient Miletus In Turkey
By Slowtravelguide
The attraction of ancient ruins depends on a lot of factors. It helps when most of the building has survived the forces of nature and the invasion of conquerors.
A well-preserved building has an immediate impact on your imagination, whereas a few scattered columns may require more extraordinary imagination.
The scenery, location and your state of mind are also factors, and don’t forget the weather! In Turkey, you don’t need to worry about the weather for most of the year.
At SlowTravelGuide, we like travelling off the beaten track.
Places like Miletus are a fascinating option for those who like to travel through history and culture without sharing the “experience” with crowds of tourists.
Of course, none of Miletus has the ‘magnificence’ that Ephesus has, but it has a lot of things that Ephesus no longer has . . . trust us. Miletus is worth the visit.
Courtyard At Ilyas Bey Mosque
This vast site combines well-preserved ruins that testify to its glorious past, whilst some corners leave more room for your imagination.
Join us for a walk around some of Miletus’ landmarks in this article.
View From The Ionic Stoa Towards The Theatre Hill
History Of Miletus In Turkey
This ancient Greek city is not far from Lake Bafa, and the impressive Didyma. Miletus goes back long before the Bronze Age, although there is little evidence to prove this.
During the Bronze Age, the Minoan Cretans came here, and during the Mycenaean era, the Carians also arrived here. By 500 BC, it was the most important Greek city in the east. Its four ports turned Miletus into a gateway of Anatolia.
After the Greeks, the city fell under Persian power, but it later returned to the Greeks. Even later, it received the attention of the Romans. Miletus was abandoned after the port became silted up, leaving behind and this wonderful site
The Theatre
Upon arrival, the first thing that you see is the theatre. Build in the 4th century BC and expanded several times until it had a seating capacity of 15,000 spectators.
Walking through it is a step-by-step discovery of beauty and history. Especially well worth a look are the wide staircase leading to the next level and the arched “corridor” behind the seats.
Climb up to the top floor and take the top exit, and you’ll find picturesque views and views of Miletus behind and to the side of the theatre.
With remnants of a Greek colonnade (a long covered corridor with columns on one side and walls on the other), remnants of baths, also from the Greek period, and a beautiful mosque, images of different eras and rulers can be taken all in one photo.
With these views, you can imagine what this theatre must have been like in the days when it was still in use. Facing the harbour, the magnificent building provides visitors with the pleasure of watching a good show or concert and offering beautiful sea views from this waterside building.
Faustina Baths and Ilyas Bey Mosque seen from the Theatre Hill at Miletus
Exploring the Faustina Baths at Miletus
Faustina Baths
The Faustina Baths are a vast, well-preserved complex next to a Palaestra with a square dedicated to exercising.
Visitors pass through ornately decorated rooms consisting of changing rooms, cold baths, hot baths, and more. A cold bath or Frigidarium must have been quite a shock! There are two statues next to it, one is a lion, and the other is a river god.
Whilst these are replicas, they do add to the experience, and one can almost imagine how one would have been able to bathe in this spectacular setting. You’ll be delighted to see the originals at the Miletus Museum.
Lion Statue & Fountain At Faustina Bath’s Frigidarium In Miletus
Ilyas Bey Mosque
The Ilyas Bey Mosque is part of a larger complex consisting of the Madrasah and the bathhouse (hammam).
Ilyas Bey Mosque
Professionally restored between 2007 and 2011, the mosque is one of the most famous domed mosques in the Emirate.
It is distinguished by its rich stone decoration using coloured gemstones and ceramic inlays. The main entrance, prayer niches, and window roofs are decorated with plants and geometric ornaments.
Ilyas Bey Mosque With Its Broken Minaret
The Hamam At The Ilyas Bey Complex At Miletus
The Ilyas Bey Bath Complex next to the mosque has been partially rebuilt and has gained a wooden roof and wooden platforms, allowing you to visit it comfortably.
Its surfaces used to be plastered, and the walls were decorated with unique floral and geometric patterns.
Inside The Ilyas Bey Complex
Overview Of The Serapeion At Miletus
Serapeion And South Agora
After passing Faustina Baths, you will see the temple of Serapeion or Serapis. Since the first half of the second century AD, inhabitants of Miletus worshipped this Egyptian-Hellenistic god.
Today, most of the contents of the temple are invisible. However, the porch, which was the main entrance to the temple from the south, used to have two other doors and became the core of the triple door, forming the most significant and most beautiful passage to the Byzantine city.
What Remains Of The Serapeion
Ionic Stoa Seen From The Harbor Gate Side
Ionic Stoa
Miletus’ Ionic colonnade is one of its most iconic images. Depending on the season of your visit, you may find it partially submerged, adding a touch of romanticism to it.
The Stoa is located on the east side of the sacred road leading to the holy site of Didyma. It is approximately 100×14 m in size and has 35 pillars.
Behind the collonaded passage is a series of rooms and two halls connecting the colonnade to the adjacent bathroom complex.
Detail Of The Column Foots Of The Ionic Stoa
What To Expect
Location: Private or rental car (check the map below).
Nearest Airport: Bodrum Airport.
Parking: Yes.
Terrain: Easy.
Stroller: No.
Income: A small fee (Museum Passis valid).
Facilities: A small cafe and toilets.
Best Time To Visit: Spring to Fall.
Delphinion And Bath Center
Delphinion has been Miletus’ main sanctuary since ancient times. It was built in honour of Apollon Delphinios and is the first part of the sacred road to the Temple of Apollo at Didyma.
Remains date back to Hellenistic and Roman times. The circular structure in the courtyard’s centre is most likely a Heroon from Roman times.
Remains Of The Roman Baths At Miletus
Today, tiny remains of the Capito Thermae Complex. These are the oldest baths in Miletus, and they must have been as spectacular in proportion and decoration as the Baths of Faustina.
The Roman Baths are one of the more modest baths on the site. Due to its location near the Port of the Lion, it is thought that merchants and seamen may have frequented the Roman Baths.
A Little Detour To Euromos
Euromos, you’ll find it on the road to Milas when driving from Miletus or Bafa. Much of the site remains excavated, but the temple that awaits you in the pine forest makes up for it generously and is very impressive. Then again, this is probably what the “Temple of Zeus” is supposed to be like.
After all, we are talking about Zeus here, the king of the gods and the god of the sky, lightning, thunder, law, order, justice, or almost everything. He certainly deserves a temple worthy of his status.
Less than half an hour’s drive from Miletus, enjoy this piece of history. You might be the only one visiting, making it all the more surreal.
Practical Information
Please note that some areas of the site are flooded during the summer. This makes for great photos, but it is then less accessible. Keep this in mind when planning your visit.
The site is extensive, but you can get free maps at the museum. Be sure to grab one before your visit!
Nymphaeum Seen From A Distance
If you have any questions about a place, feel free to ask. You can send us a message through our contact page or leave a comment on our Instagram or Facebook pages.
You can also join our group Turkey Travel Photography on Facebook to share your lovely photos or experiences about Turkey.
Places Nearby
Eski Doğanbey, a perfect day trip from Bodrum, Kuşadası or Didim (13 km)
Priene, Aristotle’s ideal city (14 km)
Lake Bafa, the breathtaking scenery (15 km)
The ruined church of Güllübahçe, urbex in Turkey! (16km)
Didyma, why do you need to look beyond the Apollo Temple? (16 km)
Places We Recommend
Iassos
Iassos, is an often forgotten ancient site near the Bodrum Peninsula. Being probably more than 4000 years old, it was a prosperous town; the fishing trade generated its primary income. (Read more)
Knidos
Knidos is one of these ancient sites who have a lot of attractive features to them. The setting is spectacular, there is a lighthouse (always favourite with me), there are two harbors for the price of one :-), and as a bonus there are different appealing stories to tell about it. (Read more)
Side
Are you looking for a lot of different things in a holiday resort? Do you like to experience the cultural atmosphere, the charm of the old town, and the fashionable wine and delicacies at a romantic seaside dinner? If this sounds like your happy place, go to Side, Turkey!. (Read more)
© 2016-2022 All rights reserved by slowtravelguide.net.
The content of this website is copyright protected and the property of slowtravelguide.net.No part of this website may be reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the written permission of the copyright owner.
Copyright ©2016-2022 Tüm hakları saklıdır. Bu (slowtravelguide.net.) web sitesinin içeriği koruma altındadır ve slowtravelguide.net.Buradaki hiçbir içerik (yazı,fotoğraf,video vb.) izinsiz olarak kopyalanamaz, alıntı yapılamaz,başka yerde yayınlanamaz.