Miletus - Didyma

Miletus is originally a coastal town, now located over ten kilometers from the sea. Here St. Paul met with the Ephesian elders and made his farewell speech. Milet is renowned for the famous philosophers it produced such as Thales, Anaximander and Anaximenes. Maritime trading propelled the development of Milet and it became an important centre of commerce. Many ancient structures are still well preserved, the most prominent of them are the grand theatre, with a seating capacity for nineteen thousand people, the Temple of Athena, and one of the largest ancient bathhouses, the Faustina Bath.

The Didyma Apollo Temple was the sanctuary of Apollo, the god of the sun, arts, music and prophecy. It was built in the 8th century BC, and in 494BC the Persians and earthquakes destroyed the original temple. Reconstruction started shortly after, mainly overseen by Alexander the Great, but the temple was never completely finished. Eventually Christianity spread throughout the region, making the concept of mythical gods redundant. Historians often surmise that had the construction of the temple finished, it would have rivalled its counterpart, the oracle of Delphi in Greece. Pilgrims travelled from miles around just to have a consultation with the high priestess of the temple. This oracle also predicted Alexander's victory over the Persians. Along with the temple, you can see the petrifying Medusa Head, the symbol of Didyma.