TRAVEL: TURKISH DELIGHT
An insider’s guide from our man in Turkey, Mehmet Basar
Edited by Anno Dornan – Photographs / Gilbert White
Golden sand’s ,blue seas great night life and restaurants are one thing but for us the real jewel of the Mediterrancan is the ancient city of Ephesus.Ephesus is one of Turkey’s largest and most spectacular cities containing 40 per cent of all roman sites in Turkey.Located at the mouth of the caystros river ,in ancient times it provided a vital link between the middle East and Antolia to the Aegean sea.İt is also home to one of the seven wonders of the ancient world –the Temple of Artemis
DID YOU KNOW?
Ephesus dates back to 3000 BC but wasn’t popalated as a city until 1.000 years later by amazonians who worshipped Cybele (an ancient mother goddes)They deserted the city when their harbour was silted alluviums from the caystros river.
The Greeks allived in 1100 BC and rebuilt the city and build the template of artemis in 700 BC which was later burned down by a Greek arsonist called Herastratus.
NORTHERN WOMAN SEPTEMBER 1998,
LOCAL LANDMARKS
The Temple of Artemis Artemison
Considered as one of the sewen wonders of the world by the writers of the antuqie world the temple was built in the southwest of the Ayasuluk hill.Today only a few pieces of marble and a single column remain ,but is a monument of such significance that is well worth seeing.
The Houses on the Slopes
The houses of the rich ephesians dating from the 1st century AD display lavish frescoes These included a likeness of socrates which can now be seen in the Ephesus Museum
The Brothel
Dating from the 4th century AD this could indeed be soon as proof of one of the oldest professions.A number of rooms and halls were clustered araund an atrium.İt is thought that the girls rooms were on the upper flor while ground floor rooms were for guests.There was also a two level bathing pool.Some wonderfull mosaics can be seen displaying three woman having drinks around a table.The brothel is also signposted from the public toilets.
WHERE TO STAY ?
ESRA APARTMENTS
Altkintrum(Approx ½ Hours From Ephesus)
Spacious ,well furnished modern accommodation in an attractive setting with many facilities.A good family location ,large swimming pool,relaxed atmosphere and on-site mini marker.
PRICE :Approx £375 per person (self catering)(14 nights)
HOTEL ELEGANCE ,Marmaris
A sophisricared top quality hotel situated right on the beach in the lively resort of Marmaris with its many bars restaurants and shops.The hotel has secluded gardens and a good range of on site including its own casino.
PRICE :Approx £485 per person (half board)
LOCAL LEGENDS
Pandorax’s Box :Ephesus is home to the legend of the beatiful but wicked Greek goddes who couldn’t resist peeking into a box left in her care and unleashed all the evils of the world.
The Peacock :Greeh legend has it that the demise of Argos the 100 eyed guardian monster of to do was secuded by Zeus and later turned into a white cow by Zeus Wife Hera – it’s a very long story was to the benefit of penacocks worlwide as they each inherited one of this eyes in the parrern of their glorious tail feathers.
OTHER PLACES TO VİSİT
ALTINKUM.Siruated between kusadasi and Bodrum and approx 1 hr 30 mins from Bodrum airport Altinkum is famous for its golden send beaches which becuse of its shallow waters are ideal for novice swimmers and children.There is a laid –back ,friendly atmosphere with travellers being accepted as regulars after a few visits.There are pleantiful restaurants and life night including the medusa open air nightclub.Altinkum is also relatively inexpensive in comparison to many of the larger Turkish cities such as Kussadasi where prices are structured to make the most of tourism from abundance of cruise liners which dock in the harbour.
DON’T MISS :Swimming in the city centre trying apple tea enjoying water sports visiting the Temple of Apollo – one of the largest ancient temples.
THE CELCUS LIBRARY :Completed arround 125 AD the Celcus library housed 12,000 roll books .It was badly burned in the invasion of the goths in 265 AD but its façade and its auditorium have been experly restored in the 1970s to something of its former glory.
THE MARBLE ROAD :Complete with sewage systems and pedestrian sidewolks the marble road dates from the hellenistic period.
THE AGORA(MARKETPLACE) : Build in the hellenistic period The Agora is the commercial centre of the city connected with the harbour street for ease of trade.
THE GRAND THEATRE :thought to date from around 117 AD.there are 24,500 seats in 22 rows of seats.There is a semicircular orchestra area with water channesl around it to drain rain water.There is also a high prepheral wall around the orchestra which protected the audience from the wild animals the gladiators were fighting
