Priene, Miletus, Didum... Ruin Left-overs

5 June 2017, Monday: Mum is up early to take a photo of the Turkish sun coming up. Our hunt for archaeological sites is not done yet and we set off for Priene. We arrive at the car park, have lunch and once again enter the magical world of stones. This walk turns out to be quite enlightening and interesting as we receive a brochure/map upon entering. This takes us step for step through the site with a written comment about each area. We enter the ancient city via the original Athena Street and stop at each place indicated on the map. We explore the Askleipios Temple, Basilica and many other parts of this ancient  town. At the food market, close to the Agora, Emile auctions off a pine cone on the stone tables where fish and grain were originally sold (sorry, we didn’t think of bringing any fish). We find the Athena Sanctuary really impressive. At the Theater we make use of the honorific seats while Emile has a well-deserved rest on the altar dedicated to Dionysos. The Theater is the only preserved one in western Asia Minor which was not lavishly overbuilt in the Roman period, but with its low stage house, has preserved its Hellenistic state. We finish our tour at 3.30pm and continue our trek to the archaeological site at Miletus.

The site is much bigger and fortunately they also provide a guide map giving us all the information we need about the ruins and stones. Otherwise it would be just that… a pile of stones. The amphitheater is quite impressive with large tunnels leading to the seats and it is still well preserved. The ancient city of Miletus once had a harbour and was the economic and cultural centre of the eastern Aegean, but due to constant siltation, the sea eventually receded which led to annual flooding of the ancient city centre at spring. We are there just as the flooded marshlands are busy drying up. The harbour did, however, remain functional and was accessed via the river. As we take one last ‘selfie’ at the amphitheater, guess what? A Boer (because he comes from Oudtshoorn in South Africa) comes walking up to us. To crown it, his wife is related to someone we know who lives only a stone-throw away from where we live in South Africa (our farm neighbours). We decide to stay here for the night with our new friends, who are travelling the world in their Land-Cruiser... with a view over the ruins of Miletus. We enjoy socializing in Afrikaans till we go to bed.

6 June 2017, Tuesday: We say goodbye to our fellow South Africans as they depart and tidy up Merzy before paying a visit to the Miletus Museum, which we weren’t able to fit in yesterday. With that ticked off, we depart for the next site marked on our map, Didum. By now I’m a bit fed up of walking long hours through these sites, but am pleasantly surprised to find that the only attraction in Didum is (another!) Temple of Apollo. The temple is quite impressive as well with the large walls reconstructed (or so we assume) to show us just how large it was and with large column drums (for the pillars) still lying around. Within an hour all plaques are read and the whole temple ground admired. At 2pm we arrive at a beach just south of Akbȕk, dubbed ‘Paradise’ by a previous camper. We have lunch and a nice refreshing swim before putting up our feet and chilling for the rest of the day. The in-house hairdresser is looking for some experience and I offer my hair for her to practice on. 3 hours later... I boast with a new look. Later in the evening while doing our family devotion, we hear a rustling in the bush. Mum gets a bit concerned thinking that someone might be outside, stealing something. As 6 pairs of eyes are peeping through the window, Genève lets out a squeal and points out a big wild boar eating the watermelon peels that we left next to Merzy this afternoon. With all the commotion in the camper, it isn’t long before the boar pushes off. We go to bed feeling like we are in the wild.

Gorgeous sunrise at Pamucak

Athena Street whose steps are still original

At the end of the flight of steps is this beautiful wall made of embossed ashlars

The Sanctuary of Askleipios

Shade, glorious shade

Sold! to the lovely gentleman at the back.

Stone table at the Food Market where grain and fish were sold... Anyone wanting to buy a sister or little brother?

Western residential area

Big, or what?

Athena Temple

This time, with the farts

Mummy likes the different angles

Bishop's Church

And the Sermon today...

Honorific seats at the Theater (Emile occupying the Altar of Dionysos)

Roman Thermal Bath Complex

The Theater facade is visible from afar, when arriving at Miletus from the southwest

The Theater at the Ancient Harbour city of Miletus

Hellenistic Heroon - an ancient grave of honour inside the city, where burial was normally prohibited

The Lion Harbour lies buried under a green meadow - the southwest corner is marked by a round monument called the Harbour Monument

Harbour Gate and Delphinion

Roman Baths

Ionic Stoa - a Roman Colonnade in Ionic style

Propylon (monumental late Roman gateway with three doors and a porch) and Great Church

Theater... taking a last selfie with the help of a timer

Thanks Oom Nick... good photography

Mum can't resist taking loads of photos and wanting to put them all on the blog

Yep, that's a South African flag in Turkey

Oom Nick and Tannie Lillian

Sleeping spot at Miletus

Miletus Museum - Branchids found on the Sacred Road to Didyma

Sphinxes from the Terrace Building on the Sacred Road

Statue of river god Maeandros - Grey Marble, Roman Period

The Temple of Apollo at Didum was one of the largest temples of the ancient world

Despite being under construction for a very long period of time, the temple was never completely finished. Only 72 of the intended 122 columns were actually erected

The Inner Courtyard and Oracle

Steps leading down into the Inner Courtyard

Timer on duty

Oh my, what happened to my nose?

Last glimpse and on our way

Now where does his water come from? (Emile)

#Turkey