Historical Interest
Ephesus (Efes)
Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes from Akbuk, Ephesus is among the most famous cities of the ancient world, and the best preserved classical city in the eastern Mediterranean. With the 45,000-seat theatre, ancient Library of Celsus, temples, tombs and the site of a large gladiator’s grave yard, Ephesus is one of the most extensive archaeological sites in the world. You can book tours to Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis and the House of the Virgin Mary from Yasmin Gardens’ on-site office.
http://www.ephesus.us/ephesus/ephesus.htm
Curetes Street - Ephesus
45,000-seat theatre – Ephesus
Ancient Library of Celsus - Ephesus
Temple of Artemis
Located near to the ancient city of Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis at Selçuk was once one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and in its prime was larger than the Parthenon at Athens. It is a lovely tranquil place and the enormous pillar gives you a good idea of the vast size of the temple. The Temple of Artemis can be visited on your way to/from Ephesus and is approximately 1 hour 30 minutes from Akbuk.
http://www.ephesus.us/ephesus/templeofartemis.htm
Temple of Artemis
House Of The Virgin Mary (Meryemana)
Around the Selçuk area is the house where the virgin mother, Mary is believed to have lived from 37 AD until her death in ~45 AD. Discovered in 1892 by clergy from Izmir using the descriptions of the Bavarian nun, Catherina Emmerich (who had visions of Mary at Ephesus), it was already well-known to local Muslims & Christians, who had been visiting it for the Feast of the Assumption since time immemorial. It is now officially accepted by the Catholic & Orthodox Churches as the true site, rather than the traditional one in Jerusalem, and received Papal authentication from Pope Paul VI in 1967. It is now a place of pilgrimage for pilgrims from all over the world.
http://www.ephesus.us/ephesus/houseofvirginmary.htm
House Of The Virgin Mary
Priene
Approximately 45 minutes from Akbuk, Priene dates from 300 BC and is set in a beautiful setting beneath the steep Mt Mykale. Widely regarded as the most spectacular Ionian ruin in Turkey, it has never been altered from its original Greek form and was originally a flourishing port; it now languishes a full 15kn from the Aegean owing to the silting up of the Maeander River. See the spectacular pillars against the backdrop of Mt. Mykale and the theatre with its stone thrones with foot stools and finger rests. A thorough exploration takes 2 hours or more and involves quite a lot of climbing.
http://www.priene.net/
Athena Temple – Priene
Miletus
Approximately 40 minutes from Akbuk, Miletus is located in the vicinity of Söke. The theatre at Miletus was built by the Greeks in the fourth century, and then rebuilt by the Romans, who tripled its size to seat 15,000 people.
Many famous classical thinkers came from here including the Greek Philosopher Thales ("Know Thyself", Delphi) and Isidorus, the architect of the Aya Sofya in Istanbul. Highlights include the finest example of a Greco-Roman Theatre in the country and the vast Baths of Faustina, constructed for the Emperor Marcus Aurelius’ wife. The small hillocks on the plain before the theatre were once islands in the sea, and where the Miletians were once defeated by the Persians while the population watched.
15,000 seat theatre - Miletus
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/turkey/miletus
Didyma
The antique city of Didyma with its ruined Temple of Apollo is easily reached by Dolmus or taxi and is approximately 30 minutes from Akbuk. Originally a pre-Greek cult sanctuary, centered around a sacred grove and holy spring, Didyma was an ancient Ionian shrine and was the most renowned oracle of the Hellenic world, containing a temple and an oracle of Apollo. Around the temple are fields of ruined marble, including several impressive pieces of sculpture, especially the much-photographed head of Medusa.
Temple of Apollo – Didyma
Temple of Apollo – Didyma
Head of Medusa, Temple of Apollo – Didyma
http://www.sacredsites.com/middle_east/turkey/didyma.htm
