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Priene
The first establishments in Priene go
back till 2000 BC. According to ancient documents, these first
settlers were the Banians who mixed with the Ionians. In the Archaic
period, the city's location may have been nearer to Miletos on the
delta of the Buyuk Menderes (Meander). Later the city moved in the
direction of the Mykale Mountains' slope.
The name "Priene" is thought to have a
pre-Greek origin when the Cretan islands, ''Praisos and Prianson"
had relations with Priene. Before becoming one of the 12 members of
the Ionian Confederation and participating to the "Ionian
Rebellion", Priene had first been a Lydian dominion for several
centuries.
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As the city had been demolished, its
restoration has been planned by the famous city planner and
architect, Hippodamos, who used for the first time the "Grating
System": all the constructions were turned to the south in order to
benefit a maximum of the day light. The roads were crossing
perpendicularly to give the best ventilation system to the city.
Approx. 283 BC, a border quarrel arose
between Priene and the Greek island Samos. It was only solved one
century later when both parties accepted to become Roman vassals.
Since then, Priene was under control of the Bergamian King, Attalos
II, who was to return the city to the Romans after his death.
Due to endless wars and the alluviums
that were invading the city, Priene was worn out and abandoned
completely in the XIIIth century AD.
Didyma
As a logical continuation, after
Priene and Miletos, one goes to Didyma, a famous temple for its
oracles. This temple dedicated to Apollo was the richest and biggest
of the Ionian temples on Anatolian soil. It was to cover such a vast
area, that its construction lasted more than 150-200 years and yet
it was planned to be without ceiling
Again after the "Ionian Rebellion", it
was to Alexander the Great to order its restoration. On the ruins of
the VIth century BC temple, a church was built during the Byzantine
period. Though the ruins one can see today, are of pre-Christian
age.
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Priene-Didyma-Miletus Tour
The temple was famous all over the
Greek world for its oracles so that it even surpassed the reputation
of Delphi.The reason for which the harbor of Panamos near Didyma
became very busy and was visited by lots of commanders, ordinary and
respected people, is that they wanted to learn their future from the
priests of the temple. The oracle ceremonies were in two steps: the
Pithy would first comment the glitters on the waters of a well and
then the priests would translate these into literal and impressive
words.
After the Lade War, many of the
priests were to escape from the temple or killed by Alexander the
Great and the temple of Didyma remained an unimportant temple till
the Roman time.
Miletos
Miletos is one of the oldest cities of
Ionia, located north of Soke, about 60 km away from Kusadasi. The
city was on the point where the Buyuk Menderes ("Meander") flew into
the Aegean Sea. Because of the alluviums, Miletos has been remote
several times from sea, which explains that one can see today
different harbors.
Miletos was also the city of many
scientists and philosophers such as Thales, Anaximander, Hekataios
(principle source to Herodotos) and closer to us, Isidorus, the
architect of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. Miletos had its alphabet
recognized by the Greek world as the official Greek alphabet, basis
of the current Latin alphabet.
In the Xth BC, Miletos has been
invaded by Ionians and the city reached its apogee in the VIIth and
VIth centuries and developed in one of the most significant cities
of Ionia. In 494 BC, the Tyran (prince - governor) of Miletos,
Aristagoras, started the "Ionia Rebellion" against the Persians
where they collected some success at first but at the end lost the
war. The Persians demolished the city and sent its habitants to
Mesopotamia. In 344 BC, Alexander the Great invaded the city and had
its trade redeveloped.
In 200 BC, Miletos became the dominion
of the Myceneans, fact that is shown by the style of the ceramics in
the houses and the city walls. During the Roman Empire, it became an
independent city and later a bishopric at early Christian times.
During the Byzantine period Miletos was called "Ania". As of that
time, due to geographic and climatic changes, the city completely
lost of its importance and was to be abandoned.
The most important monuments to be
seen at Miletos are: the Bath of Faustina, the Delphinion (small
temple dedicated to Apollo Delphinion, protector of ships and
harbors) and the amphitheater.
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