Miletus Ancient City — Attraction in Didim

Exploring the ancient city of Miletus is like uncovering a cornerstone of history itself! Known as one of the most important cities of the ancient Greek world, Miletus is a treasure trove for history lovers, with its extensive ruins and rich legacy that helped shape the foundations of Western thought, philosophy, and science.

Miletus holds a unique place in history, famed as the birthplace of some of the earliest philosophers, including Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenes. These great minds laid the groundwork for scientific and philosophical inquiry, making Miletus a beacon of wisdom and innovation that influenced the world for centuries. Visiting here, you truly feel the power and importance of this city as an intellectual hub of the ancient world.

One of the highlights of Miletus is its magnificent theater, which seated over 15,000 people and is one of the largest and best-preserved in Asia Minor. Standing in this grand structure, you can almost hear the echoes of past performances and public debates that once animated this space, bringing people together for entertainment and civic engagement.

Miletus was also a major port city, strategically positioned to connect the Aegean and Mediterranean worlds. Its influence on urban planning is profound, as it was designed using a grid system by Hippodamus, the father of urban planning. This innovative layout became a model for city designs around the world, a legacy that still influences modern urban landscapes today.

Walking through the remains of the agora, temples, baths, and monumental gates, you get an awe-inspiring sense of the grandeur and cultural depth that Miletus once had. It’s an experience that combines beauty with history and offers a rare window into the ancient world’s intellectual and architectural achievements.

Miletus is an absolute must-visit for anyone interested in ancient history and culture. The stories and accomplishments of this city have shaped the world, and seeing it firsthand is an unforgettable experience that connects you to the very roots of human...

The ancient city of Miletus, which had previously been a local settlement, was founded in the 2nd millennium BC by a group of immigrants who came to Anatolia from Crete under the command of Serpedon, the brother of the Minoan King. After the Mycenaean and Achaemenid colonies, the city experienced the Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman, Eastern Roman, Menteşe Principality and Ottoman Periods. In the Archaic Age, Miletus was an important settlement and port city and was the capital of the Ionian Confederation. Its importance continued in the Hellenistic, Roman and Eastern Roman periods. Later, its importance decreased due to the sea receding and its loss of its port city status. When the Great Seljuk Sultan Alparslan defeated the Eastern Roman army in the Battle of Malazgirt in 1071, the doors of Anatolia were opened to Turkish raids and in a short period of 10 years, they reached the Aegean coast. After 1261, Orhan, one of the Menteşe Beys, had coins minted in his own name in Milet and had the city's name written as Palatia. The city was then...

Crazy huge amphitheater with a phenomenal sunset 🌅😎👌

Y'all know I'm seriously a sucker for a good sunset! Whatever was in the air on this particular evening overlooking this ancient amphitheater and associated ruins really was something special 🎉🎉🎉

I love this particular amphitheater because not only is it large and in charge buuuut also there's no one around for miles! Except of course for the random Turkish shepherd with his goats and sheep grazing between the ruins. That adds a lil special little ambience to the whole scene 🐐🏚️🐏

Getting to explore this entire set of ruins with the motorcycle is crazy fun! The boys and I were having an absolute ball checking out the ancient Roman bath house, the council house, and even a modern day mosque behind this amphitheater on our noble hogs 🛵💨🔥🇹🇷

On the way out of here with the sun in full technicolor mode we passed a small harbor full of ships which was absolutely beautiful with the colors of the sunset reflecting off the sea... It almost didn't look real... More like a painting or a postcard but in...