Priene Miletus Didyma Tour
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Tour Overview
Tour Starts: Selcuk or Kusadasi
Tour Finishes: Selcuk or Kusadasi
Tour Duration: 8 hours
Pick up from Selcuk or Kusadasi hotel then we commence our Priene Miletus Didyma tour with a drive to Priene. The sites we will visit today include:
Priene was one of the smallest of the 12 cities that made up the Ionia union. Its ruins are located in a dramatic setting on top of a flat tableland overlooking the Meander River, with the steep slopes of Mount Mykale in the background.
In ancient times it had a harbour, and there were great hopes for Priene’s future because of the harbour. However, the harbour gradually silted over which impacted on the city’s growth significantly.
In spite of this, the extensive use of marble and dedications of buildings suggest that it was a very wealthy city. In addition to its beautiful location, it offers visitors today the opportunity to see its well-preserved theatre, bouleterion (council chamber) and the remains of its Temple of Athena. It is generally agreed that Priene is the best example of an intact ancient city.
Miletus was another important city in ancient times. Its location on trade routes made it very prosperous, and it also made significant contributions to science and was the home to several famous ancient philiosophers. The first coins were minted in this city, exact weight measures were established and the Phoenicican alphabet perfected here. It was here that St Paul met with the elders of Ephesus before his final journey to Rome. When Miletus was rebuilt in 479B, it was planned in a grid design, and was later used as the design for many cities throughout the Mediterranean world.
Didyma, located near the modern day resort town of Didim was home to a huge Temple of Apollo which was among the most famous oracles in the ancient world, equal in importance to the Greece’s temple at Delphi.
After the tour you will be dropped back to your hotel.
