ABOUT MILETOS ( MILET )

When you arrive at the zone of the ruins, the magnificent theatre of the city appears in sight at first. The theater had been constructed during the Hellenistic period and, it acquired its present characteristics by means of the annexes made during the Roman period. The walls of the front facade of the theatre, are 140 m long and 30 m high, and are an interesting example of stone workmanship. This theatre was large enough to hold 24.000 people, and a fortress was built upon it during the Byzantine period seizing its capacity to 15.000 people.

On the opposite side of the theatre there is a Selcuk Caravanserai and the baths built for Faustian the II. Wife of Marcus Aurelius (161-180 A.D.), are situated adjacent to the theatre. The Temple of Serapes, belonging to the 3rd century A.D., is behind the baths. The rectangular buildings seen on one side are warehouse buildings. The adjacent Southern Agora building which has dimensions of 164 x 196 m and is surrounded by stoats, belongs to the 2nd century A.D. and its southern gate is at the museum of Berlin today.

When you go out through the northern gate of the Agora, you see the Bishop's Church, Martyr ion belonging to the 5th century A.D. beside it, and the ceremonial road which is 100 m long and 28 m wide, extending in front of the Agora. On the east side of it, there is a fountain in the Public Square (Nymphaion) belonging to the 2nd century A.D., and Bouleuterion (the Senate Building) is situated opposite to it. It is known that this building had been constructed during the years 175-164 B.C., and the Temple of Asklepios and the Sacred Place are situated at its side. At the side of these, the Northern Agora extends along the sacred road and at the right hand side of the sacred road, there is the Gymnasium belonging to the 2nd century B.C. the entrance of which has been brought to an erect position at present.

The baths that Vergilius Capito had ordered to be constructed during the time of Claudius, are situated north of the Gymnasium; and some of these baths were used during the Seljuk Period. at the northern end of the Ceremonial Road, the Harbour Gate which was a passage with 16 columns is situated; and on the east of this road there is Delphinium which is a work of the Archaic period.

When you go towards the north from here, the port stoa, the Harbour Monument built in the year 31 B.C., the Small Harbour Monument and the Synagogue are located at the left hand side. The statues of the lions on both sides of the port were used to block the entrance to the Military Harbour by a chain. On the opposite side, the Roman Baths are seen.

The remains of the Stadium, Western Agora and the Temple of Athena belonging to the 5th c. B.C., are located south of Miletus. The only ancient Turkish work in Miletus is the Mosque of Ilyas Bey, ruler of the area at that time. The mosque was built in the year 1404 A.D. and it can be visited today.