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 SELÇUK |
POPULATION
: 30.539
DISTANCE
FROM IZMIR :
110 km
Advantages
Offered by Selçuk :
The
climate and the structure of the land area are suitable
for agricultural production. It has a unique potential for
sport tourism (parachuting, wind surfing), religious
tourism, cultural and sea tourism. |
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| A town in the
foothills of the Aydın mountains 94 km south of
Izmir. SeIçuk is the site of Ephesus Museum, a
magnificent castle and the 6th century Basilica of
St.John. The road leading to the resorts of
Marmaris and Bodrum passes through Selçuk, while
Kuşadası, an imprtant port of call for many
yachts and cruise liners, is just a twenty minute
drive to the north. Invaded by the Kimmerians in
7th century BC the town was then conquered
by the Lydians in 560 BC. The lydians moved the
center of the town inwards, to the placen where
the Artemision Temple was situated. The town was
conquered by the Persians in 546 BC and then
resurrected by Lysimachos. It was then once again
moved, this time to the location between the
Panayir and Bulbul Mountains.
Following the migration of the peoples of Colophon and Lebedos to the
region, the town grew larger and was encircled with
walls. It was ruled by the Seleucids during the Hellenistic
Period. |
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| Later in 190 BC, the Kingdom of Pergamum ruled the town and after 133 BC the
Romans took over. The period of
Emperor Augustus was the most glorious of all times the town had ever
lived. The town
maintained its significance during the Christian Period as well. It is known that
St. Paul, one of
the Apostles of Christ, came to town in AD 50 and St. John died and was buried here in the
beginning of the 2nd century AD. Ny mid-7th century AD, during justinian's
reign, the town
was living through its third blossoming grandeur. Ayasuluk Castle and St. John Church
were built during this period. The town was then invaded by the Araps in the 7th and 8th
centuries. In the meantime, the alluvial discharge of the river meanders started to fill
the port, eventually causing Ephesus to cease being a port town, all
together. Upon the
settlement of Seljuks in region in the 14th century. Artemision as well as its environs and today's
Selçuk have started to
emerge annexed by the Ottomans after 1426. |
| SELÇUK
iSABEY MOSQUE : Selcuk Isabey Mosque is on of the most important structures of
Aydınoğulları Beyliği (dynasty) ; a dynasty of the Selcuks. The mosque was erected in 1375
by Aydınoglu Isabey , the son of Mehmet Bey from Aydınogulları
dynasty. It was designed
and built by architect Ali of Damascus.One third of the Structure covers part of the
mosque and two thirds of it is the courtyard. The courtyard has a smooth wooden
roof, colonnade and an octagon pool. It shows the transition to the Classic period Ottoman
architecture. At the present
time , the colonnades in the courtyard are lost. Twelve pillars whic h surrounded this
courtyard still stands. Two long nave with a smooth wooden roof, being parallel to the
mihrap, intersects through the tow domes in this mosque (Crosswise nave). You can enter
the real mosque building trough a gate vay with Three arches. |
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The triangle pendentives of the dome in front of the altar is filled with
turqoise,
dark blue and brown mosaic porcellains, small hexagon plagues and is Ornamented with
hexagon geometrical stars. There are stalectite fiilling with turquoise porcelain pieces
on the octagon tembour of the cupole. The filling is a reminder of the Selcuks
Style.
Isabey Mosque was vanguarded with its architectural facade and the order of the
colonnade courtyard to the first grand Ottoman Period’s structures in Bursa, Edirne and
İstanbul. |
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| ST.
JOHN'S CHURCH :
Ayasuluk
Hill is the place where the city of Ephesus was
founded in the Hittite Period and where the
Myceneans settled. In the fifth century, when the
city was in its weakest state, the diameter of the
city walls of Ephesus was reduced in order to ease
the defense of the city; but when officials
realized that even this was not enough to insure
adequate defense, a citadel was built at the very
top of the hill. Soon a significant part of the
city's population began to live within and around
the citadel. It continued to be used during the
Selcuk Dynasty and Early Ottoman Periods. It has
not been fully excavated. Currently, a chapel,
bath, mescit, and cisterns can be seen within the
walls. During the reign of Murat the Second of the
Ottoman Empire, coins were minted here. During the
seventh and the eighth centuries A.D., pirates
from the sea, and Arabs by land besieged the city. |
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| For this reason the walls
around St. John's Church on the south side of the hill
built with contributions from Emperor Justinian and his
wife, Theodora, were this time reinforced with large
marble blocks taken from Ephesus, and an outer wall was
completed. The outer walls also have gates opening to the
east, west and south. The main gate is the Persecution
Gate, which was protected by two high towers. This is the
only remaining example in this region of gates with an
atrium. The narrow atrium at the back of the gate and the
walls of the gate were well protected. The frieze
picturing Achilleus was not originally from Ephesus. It
can be seen in Woburn Abbey in England. The way from the
gate to the sanctuary is paved with large, smooth marble
blocks. The church has six large domes laid out in a cross
design. The tomb of St. John was in the grave room under
the middle dome. The Greek archeologist, Sotiriu, during
his excavations from 1920 to 1921, opened this room and
removed skeletons. The slope is steep to the west of the
church. To support the west end of the church and
surroundings, a terrace and a three-part cistern was built.
The atrium above this terrace is square shaped. On its
sides, a row of columns supports the roof of the portico,
which protects the underlying structure. After the portico,
there is an unroofed narrow platform on the sides. This
structural detail can also be seen in Ayasofia in Istanbul.
On the edges are railing boards. After the atrium, are the
exonarthex and narthex, which had a row of small domes on
its roof. The church had three naves, the center one being
the widest. The two rows of columns on the north side have
been placed erect in their original positions. On the
capitals of the columns, the monograms of Emperor
Justinian and Theodora can be seen. The Tomb of the Saints
can be reached via the Anbon Way. As seen in the model
made by the museum, the top of the tomb chamber was
covered with colored marble mosaics. Four small columns
with spiral flutes supported a dome. The tomb chamber can
be reached by a narrow staircase. In addition, a
horizontal window opens to the tomb chamber. During the
Middle Ages, this was a pilgrimage site, as people
believed that a magic dust with healing powers was
dispersed from this window. The chapel at the northern
edge of the apse was built in the tenth century. Among the
frescoes of the apse, is one of St. John. The building
near the chapel is the holy room where holy relics were
kept. This small octagonal shaped building was domed and
had two floors. Next to this is the Baptisterion. This
building is newer and more complex than the other church
structures. After the death of St. John it is believed
that first a small church, then in the fourth century a
basilica, were built over his tomb. The Baptisterion was
probably also built at this time. |
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| THE
COUNCIL CHURCH : The Council Church,
also known as the Basilica of St. Mary, being
constructed in her name, this building is the
place where the third Ecumenical Council met in
431 A.D. The building was constructed on top of
the Museion, the differing structural materials
being seen easily in the wall. The Museion was
thought to be a kind of medical school, as an
inscription there says that the doctors working at
the Museion would be exempted from all taxes in
the Provinces of Asia. Taxes and fees taken from
people as they traveled between provinces were
quite a burden in those times; and the fact that
doctors here were exempt indicates the importance
of this facility. In Ephesus, physicians such as
Rufus and Soranos made discoveries that were
important in the history of medicine. During the
excavations of Ephesus, many medical tools made of
bronze, bone, and silver were discovered. Thus,
perhaps medical tools were sold or even produced
in the Museion. |
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| In the fourth century, an
apse and an atrium were added to the west end of the
Museion, which was a long building with three naves. In
this way, the building was converted into a church. The
floor of the atrium was paved with marble blocks and a
portico was placed before the walls. The baptisterion is
at the west end. The middle nave of the church is as wide
as the apse; the side naves are narrower. The columns
between the naves are connected by parapets, which have
geometric motifs on them. Even though the floor was
covered with mosaics, only a small portion of the original
remains in the narthex. The church was destroyed beyond
repair by earthquakes in the fourth century. During the
reign of Emperor Justinian, from 527 to 565 A.D., a
smaller sanctuary with a single dome was constructed in
the center of the building. The marble omphalos that can
be seen in this church had been brought here from the
Harbour Baths. |
| Emperor Theodosius
called for the third Ecumenical Council meeting to
be held in Ephesus. During this period, the
personhood of Jesus and whether the Virgin Mary was
the mother of God, or of the human Jesus, was a
controversial topic in many churches. Nestorius
championed his views in his church at Antioch, and
continued to support them after he became the
Patriarch of Constantinople. In his defence, he said
that none of the apostles had believed otherwise.
When the controversy grew, Emperor Theodosius wanted
a universal church meeting at Ephesus. Among those
attending were Nestorius; Cyrillos, the Patriarch of
Alexandria; Jean, the Patriarch of Antioch; the
Patriarch of Ephesus; and representatives of the
Pope and many churches. During this meeting, which
lasted three months, riots occurred in the city. In
records of the meeting, the Virgin Mary's presence
at Ephesus is mentioned as well. |
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| ŞiRiNCE |
| After visiting Ephesus in southwestern
Turkey,
do not miss the opportunity to visit the beautiful mountain village of Şirince. |
From the
town of Selçuk where Ephesus is situated, a winding road takes you through green
countryside to this corner of paradise just eight kilometres away. Surrounded by forest
clad hills, the village lies on the south and west slopes of a valley.
Şirince overlooks the Ephesus plain, whose olive groves, orchards, vineyards, and fields of tobacco and cotton stretch to the
sea. After 15 or 20 minutes the
road from Selçuk rises over a hill and winds down the other side into the village
square.
Our first objective in coming here was of course to eat! So before looking around
Şirince, we headed straight for Artemis Wine House and Restaurant on the hill on the edge
of the village. The restaurant is housed in a re-stored building that was formerly the
village school and serves homemade wines and delicious food made from local
produce. The
wonderful views over the village and plain lend their own savour to the
food. |
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Hunger
satisfied, it was time to explore Şirince. The main street and square are shaded
by great plane trees and lined by shops, coffee houses and restaurants. We sat for a while
in the coffee house in the square drinking tea and chatting to the village muhtar (elder) Ali
Vurmazdere. He is delighted that Şirince is becoming so popular with
visitors, and hopes
that tourism will reverse the fortunes of the village. Local inhabitants have been moving
away in large numbers in recent years, both for economic reasons and because of problems
like their childrn’sc education. The population has fallen from 840 in 1980 to 704
today. Some
writers refer to Şirince as Ephesus in the Mountains, asserting. that Şirince - formerly
Kırkınca - was established in the fifth century after alluvion carried down by the
Küçük Menderes River and flooding made the ancient site unfit for
habitation. Hearsay
relates that the name Kırkınca was later changed to Çirkince (the Ugly Place)
so as to prevent others discovering this beautiful spot and moving here
When governor of izmir Kâzım
Dirik visited the village he was so charmed with Kırkınca that he altered the name to
Şirince (Charming Place). |
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The narrow stone streets are full of picturesque
shops selling lace and other handicrafts made by local women. There are also stalls
selling homemade soap and the local wines for which Şirince is renowned.
Tobacco, olives,
and peaches are also grown in the area, and tourism is becoming another important part of
the local economy.
As we climbed up through the village, which rises on the slopes on
either side of the river, we were fascinated by the old houses along the narrow
streets.
Şirince is one of the few places in Turkey to have preserved its 19th century texture
intact. The ground and first floors are built of rubble stone and the second floors of
lathe and plaster. The upper floors, which oversail the lower, contain the living
spaces,
while the ground floors consist of store rooms and stables. The window
frames and eaves are decorated with flower, bird and leaf motifs. Handmade lace curtains
hang at the windows. |
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Oleanders and other colourful flowers and shrubs grow luxuriantly in
the gardens on either side of the lanes.Some of the houses have been restored and turned into pensions for
over-night guests, so it is now possible to make Şirince a base for exploring the region.
Şirince is within easy reach not only of Ephesus but other ancient cities like Priene,
Miletus and Didyma.
Şirince is a place where visitors who want to get away from the
beaten tourist track can enjoy the authentic village atmosphere, waking to the call of the
cockerels, and participating in traditional harvest festivities in the vineyards and olive
groves,’ he explained. Several local people have set up small restaurants
in their gardens, some specialising in gözleme, a griddle bread with various fillings. It
is unthinkable to leave Şirince without tasting this simple but delicious dish.
e from the early 19th century. |
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You can
watch the dough being rolled out, being filled with cheese, auber -
gines, mushrooms or
minced meat, and then cooked on the griddle over a wood fire. Accom -
panied by a drink of
cold ayran (yoğurt beaten with water) it makes a wonderful meal.
The two churches
in Şirince are now being restored. The Church of St John the Baptist was built in 1832
and is being restored by an American foundation under the auspices of Ephesus Museum. The
second smaller church is also thought to dat |
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