Southern Aegean: A geography of water and stone
Miletus, Aphrodisias, Hierapolis, Halicarnassus, Stratonikeia and Knidos show different faces of relationships between river, marble, harbour and mountain.
100 narratives and 143 place records connect to this discovery world through thematic and geographic relationships.
Four gateways into this world
- Cities and layers — Traces of settlement, belief and public life layered in the same place.
- Events and transformations — The marks left on geography by war, migration, trade, disaster and political change.
- People and ideas — Networks of knowledge, art and thought extending from Aegean cities into the Mediterranean.
- Roads and basins — Lines of movement linking harbour to inland, mountain to plain and sanctuary to city.
Other discovery worlds
Go deeper by province
Story and event network
- 1923 Population Exchange and Evacuation of Kayaköy (Levissi) Greek Community
- Reconstruction of Smyrna by Emperor Marcus Aurelius Following the Plea of Aelius Aristides (178 AD)
- From Afyonkarahisar Synnada Leo Telegraph to Halicarnassus Leochares Mausoleum and Knidos Chrysermus Pharmacology: Beacon Telegraphy, Mausoleum Sculpture, and Alexandrian Pharmacology
- Alabanda Karian League Sacred Council Assembly and Zeus Chrysaoreus Festival (200 BCE)
- From Alabanda to Amyzon Sanctuary and Piginda Fortress: Zeus Chrysaoreus Temple, Satrap Mausolus Decree, and 3,000-Seat Mountain Theater
- Education of Cicero by Menecles of Alabanda and Transformation of Roman Senate Oratory (79 BC)
- Establishment of Apameia Kibotos Caravan Market and the Marsyas Myth (3rd c. BCE)
- The long work of stone at Aphrodisias: from quarry to apprentice, Aphrodite to Geyre
- From Atça Grid City Plan to Tepeköy Painted Mosque and Yeşilyurt Water Mills: 1926 Paris-Inspired Layout, 18th-Century Wall Murals, and Dandalas Water Wheels
- Reconstruction of Atça with Paris-Inspired Radial-Grid Master Plan (1926)
- From Aydın Alabanda Hermogenes' Architecture to Nysa Dionysius Thrax Grammar and Ephesus Apollonius Dyskolos Syntax: Classical Architecture, World Grammar, and Syntax Theory
- From Aydın Alabanda Menecles Oratory to Mastaura Diophanes Reform and Teos Androsthenes Astronomy: Roman Oratory, Agrarian Reform, and Geared Astronomy
- From Aydın Alabanda Papinianus Law to Tralles Metrodorus Geometry and Halicarnassus Timotheus Mausoleum: Roman Jurisprudence, Hagia Sophia Geometry, and Mausoleum Sculptures
- Saint Paul's Epistle to the Colossians and Early Christian Community at Colossae (60 CE)
- Artemis Kindyas Sanctuary Festivals and Pegasus Legend at Bargylia (100 CE)
- From Bargylia Artemis Temple to Tuzla Flamingos and Akyaka River: Pegasus Myth, Pink Bird Flocks, and Crystal Azmak Waters
- Appointment of Physician Galen of Pergamon as Personal Doctor to Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (169 AD)
- The road of a question: from Miletus to Didyma, from harbour to delta
- From Bodrum Queen Artemisia's Fleet to Knidos Eudoxus Observatory and Colophon Xenophanes Philosophy: First Female Admiral, Mathematical Astronomy, and Rational Theology
- Emergence of Buldan Weaving and Construction of Tripolis Colonnaded Street (200 CE)
- Burgaz (Old Knidos) Archaic Agricultural Terraces and Amphora Production (550 BCE)
- From Burgaz to Palamutbükü and Reşadiye Mansion: Old Knidos, Amphora Kilns, and Datça Stone Architecture
- Progradation of the Büyük Menderes Delta and Silting of the Latmic Gulf (6th c. BCE — 6th c. CE)
- From Cadianda Mountain City to Dalyan Radar Hill and Yaka Art Academy: 5th-Century BC Lycian Acropolis, 450m Delta Panorama, and Olive Press Conversion
- Construction of Cadianda Lycian Mountain City Walls and Acropolis (400 BC)
- From Chalcetor Karian Walls to Hızırşah Mosque and Yaka Park Waterfalls: Archaic Stone Citadel, 14th-Century Menteşe Heritage, and Akdağ Springs
- Geographer Strabo's Education at Nysa ad Maeandrum and the Roman Library (50 BCE)
- From Colossae Purple Wool to Mount Honaz Peak and Kaklık Underground Pamukkale: Epistle to Colossians, 2,571m Peak, and Travertine Caves
- From Domatia Greek Stone Houses to Karina Pier and Thebae Walls: Mount Mykale Mansions, Lagoon Fisheries, and Hellenistik Fortresses
- Erection of the Seikilos Musical Inscription Stele at Tralleis (100 CE)
- Authoring of Anatomicis Treatises (First Description of Neuroanatomy and Nerves) by Physician Rufus of Ephesus (90 AD)
- Authoring of the Foundational Gynecological Encyclopedia Gynaecologia by Soranus of Ephesus (100 AD)
- Population Exchange of Eski Doğanbey (Domatia) and Trade at Karina Customs Pier (1923 CE)
- From Gerga Sanctuary to Köyceğiz Lake and Saklıkent Canyon: Megalithic Karian Temple, Kaunos Saltworks, and 300m Gorge Walls
- Command of the Naval Fleet by Queen Artemisia I of Halicarnassus at the Battle of Salamis (480 BC)
- From Herakleia Salbake Medical School to Medet Mound and Işıklı Lake Eumeneia: Surgical Reliefs, Bektashi Monastery, and Water Lily Sanctuary
- Foundation of Herakleia Salbake Medical Center and Charter of Eumeneia (180 BCE)
- Hermias, the dolphin, and the two memories of Güllük Gulf
- Hierapolis Plutonium (Gate to Hell) Sanctuary and Thermal Healing Cult
- From Iasos Fish Market Museum to Keramos Kurşunlu Yapı and Mobolla Chimneyed Mansions: Maritime Walls, Massive Ashlar Masonry, and Muğla Chimneys
- Construction of Iasos Maritime Walls and Roman Fish Market Monument (350 BCE)
- Lakes, Mounds, and Trade Routes of the Inland Aegean: From Beycesultan to Apameia and the Walls of Amorium
- Where Two Seas Meet: The Lighthouse of Knidos, Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, and Rock Tombs of Kaunos
- From İzmir Aelius Aristides' Smyrna Oratory to Magnesia Pytheos Architecture and Teos Theodosius Geometry: Imperial Oratory, Halicarnassus Mausoleum, and Spherical Geometry
- From İzmir Bergama Ctesibius' Water Organ to Knidos Androsthenes Ocean Voyages and Pergamon Apollonius Conics: Pneumatics, Ocean Navigation, and Planetary Conics
- From İzmir Ephesus Rufus Neuroanatomy to Magnesia Hegesias Oratory and Bergama Telephus Grammar: Ancient Neuroanatomy, Asianism Rhetoric, and Imperial Tutoship
- From İzmir Ephesus Soranus Medicine to Aydın Tralles Apollonius Sculpture and Germencik Menesthes Architecture: Gynecological Medicine, Farnese Bull Sculpture, and Ionic Architecture
- From İzmir Ephesus Xenophon's Romantic Novel to Priene Isidore Hagia Sophia and Halicarnassus Bryaxis Serapis: Romantic Literature, Dome Architecture, and Monumental Sculpture
- From İzmir Epicurus' Teos Garden to Nysa Aristodemus Library and Miletus Hecataeus Map: Epicureanism, Roman Rhetoric, and World's First Map
- From İzmir Erythrai Sibyl Oracles to Teos Hermogenes Architecture and Tralles Apollonius Sculpture: Roman Capitol Oracles, Pseudodipteral Layout, and Farnese Bull
- From İzmir Homer's Meles Valley to Priene Bias Justice and Urla Anaxagoras Philosophy: Iliad and Odyssey Epics, Seven Sages Law, and Birth of Astrophysics
- From İzmir Colophon Mimnermus Poetry to Teos Nausiphanes Philosophy and Knidos Chrysippus Medicine: Lyrical Poetry, Atomist Philosophy, and Experimental Dietetics
- From İzmir Smyrna Hermippus Biography to Teos Boëthos Sculptures and Knidos Ctesias Persica: Classical Biography, Bronze Sculptures, and Persian History
- Alliance of Queen Ada of Caria and Alexander the Great at Alinda (334 BCE)
- Emergence of Native Karian Religious Cult and Construction of Gerga Megalithic Monuments (500 BCE)
- Sacred Ways and Key-Bearers of Caria: Mountain Rituals from Lagina to Labraunda
- Naval Expedition of the Indus River and Red Sea by Admiral Scylax of Caryanda and Writing of Periplus (515 BC)
- From Kayaköy Levissi to Gemiler Island and Afkule Cliffs: 500 Stone Houses, St. Nicholas Pilgrimage Tunnel, and Cliff Monastery
- Kleidophoros Key-Bearing Ceremony and Hekatesia Festivals
- Construction of Knidos Double Harbors, Eudoxus Observatory, and Scientific Revolution (4th c. BCE)
- Design of the 365.25-Day Julian Roman Calendar Reform for Julius Caesar by Astronomer Sosigenes of Knidos (46 BC)
- Authoring of the 23-Volume Persica History by Royal Physician Ctesias of Knidos at the Persian Court (398 BC)
- Discovery of Experimental Physiology and Central Nervous System by Erasistratus of Cnidus (280 BC)
- From the Latmos Mountains to the Walls of Alinda: Herakleia Rock Art, the Temple of Zeus at Euromos, and Queen Ada
- Erection of the Letoon Trilingual Inscription Pedestal (358 BCE)
- Establishment of the Lycian League and Entry of Pinara and Sidyma (168 BCE)
- From Lycus to the Büyük Menderes: Laodicea, Hierapolis and Tripolis
- Three cities in the Menderes valley: Nysa, Mastaura, Tralleis
- Meanders of the Maeander: Landlocked Cities from the Latmic Gulf to Lake Bafa
- Construction of Datça Hızırşah Mosque by Menteşe Ruler Hızır Bey (1390)
- Valley of Marble and Healing: Sculptors of Aphrodisias, Waters of Pamukkale, and Textiles of Laodicea
- Creation of the World's First Known Geographic Map by Hecataeus of Miletus (510 BC)
- From Muğla Bodrum Scylax Explorations to Balıkesir Xenocles Oratory and Aydın Nysa Strabo Geography: Maritime Exploration, Roman Oratory, and World Geography
- From Muğla Knidos Agatharchides Geography to Tralles Alexander Medicine and Halicarnassus Hegesander Laocoön: Red Sea Geography, Imperial Medicine, and Vatican Sculptures
- From Muğla Knidos Erasistratus' Physiology to Ephesus Artemidorus Dream Science and Tire Xenocrates Pharmacology: Experimental Neuroanatomy, Dream Psychology, and Imperial Pharmacology
- From Muğla Knidos Sosigenes Calendar to Yatağan Metrodorus Philosophy and Aydın Nysa Menestheus Grammar: Julian Calendar Astronomy, Academic Philosophy, and Classical Philology
- Battle of Mycale: the beached fleet and the clash of 479 BCE
- Freedom Battle of the Aegean on Mount Mycale: The Fall of the Persian Fleet and the Revival of Panionion
- From Mylasa to Labraunda: the threshold of city and mountain
- From the Canyon Library of Nysa to Mastaura Amphitheater and Arpaz Castle
- Authoring of Téchne Grammatikē (The World's First Systematic Grammar Textbook) by Dionysius Thrax of Nysa (170 BC)
- Composition of the Iliad and Odyssey by Epic Poet Homer along Meles Stream Valley (750 BC)
- Pergamon, Halicarnassus, Miletus: paths of knowledge
- Invention of the Water Organ (Hydraulis) and Force Pump by Ctesibius of Pergamon (270 BC)
- From Pinara Hive Tombs to Sidyma Heroon and Babadağ Peaks: Vertical Acropolises, Roman Heroons, and Sacred Peaks
- Design of the Great Dome and Pendentives of Hagia Sophia by Master Architect Isidore of Miletus/Priene (532 AD)
- Invention of the 9-Tower Optical Beacon Telegraph System across Anatolia by Leo the Mathematician of Synnada (840 AD)
- Construction of Cevher Pasha Mosque on Tabea Rock Citadel (1792)
- From Tabea Rock Citadel to Serinhisar Roasted Chickpeas and Acıpayam Yazır Mosque: Hellenistik Walls, 500-Year Ovens, and 1801 Painted Mosque
- From Amyntas Tomb at Telmessos to Tlos Acropolis and Letoon Sanctuary: Rock Tombs, Pegasus, and Trilingual Inscription
- Education of Epicurus by Nausiphanes of Teos and Establishment of Tean Atomist Philosophy (320 BC)
- Design of the Pseudodipteral Temple of Dionysus at Teos by Master Architect Hermogenes (220 BC)
- From Tralleis Üç Gözler to Seikilos Epitaph and Nysa Canyon Aqueducts: Vaulted Gymnasion, World's Oldest Song, and Water Tunnels
- Training of Byzantine Master Builders of Hagia Sophia by Geometrician Metrodorus of Tralles (510 AD)
- Authoring of the 12-Volume Medical Encyclopedia Therapeutica by Alexander of Tralles (560 AD)
- From Tripolis Colonnaded Street to Buldan Weaving Houses and Peat Lake: Marble Avenues, Hand Looms, and Water Lily Plateaus
- Initiation of Forged Steel Yatağan Sword Craft by Yatağan Baba (1250 AD)
- From Yatağan Swords to Hırka Timber Mosque and Yeşildere Waterfall: 800-Year Forged Steel Workshops, 18th-Century Floral Paintings, and 55m Cascade
- From Yörük Ali Efe House to Cihanoğlu Tower and Karacasu Potters: 1919 Malgaç Victory, 1756 Ayan Tower, and 5,000-Year Red Clay Kilns
- Yörük Ali Efe's Malgaç Railway Bridge Raid and Kuva-yı Milliye Resistance (June 16, 1919)
Connected cultural inventory
- Acıpayam Yazır 1801 Timber-Columned Painted Mosque
- Akbük Public Beach
- Akyaka Ancient İdima and Kadın Azmağı Crystal River
- Alabanda Ancient City Birthplace of Brothers Menecles and Hierocles and Rhetorical Assembly
- Alabanda Ancient City Birthplace of Master Architect Hermogenes and Bouleuterion
- Alabanda Ancient City Carian Birthplace of Praetorian Prefect Papinianus and Legal Assembly
- Ancient City of Alinda and Karpuzlu
- Altınkum Beach
- Ancient City of Aphrodisias and Geyre
- Urban and marble layers of Aphrodisias
- Aphrodisias marble-workshop landscape and Geyre
- Arpaz Castle, Beyler Mansion, and Ancient Harpasa
- Babadağ (Ancient Mount Kragos) and Ölüdeniz Lagoon
- Ancient City of Bargylia and Artemis Kindyas Temple
- Beycesultan Mound
- Bodrum Halicarnassus Birthplace and Naval Base of Queen Artemisia I
- Bozdoğan Piginda Ancient City and Mountain Fortress
- Buldan Süleymanlı High-Altitude Peat Lake and Water Lily Sanctuary
- Buldan Yeşildere 55-Meter Waterfall and Ağla Canyon
- Colossae: layers of the Lycus Valley
- Çalış Beach
- Çine Alabanda Ancient City and Zeus Chrysaoreus Temple
- Çine Tepeköy 18th-Century Ottoman Wall-Painted Timber-Masonry Mosque
- Datça Burgaz (Old Knidos) Archaic City
- Datça Hızırşah Village and 14th-Century Menteşe Principality Mosque
- Datça Knidos Birthplace of Astronomer Eudoxus and Marble Sundial Observatory
- Datça Knidos Birthplace of Ocean Admiral Androsthenes and Military Harbor
- Datça Yaka Village and International Knidos Academy of Culture and Arts UKKSA
- İçmeler Bay, Dilek Peninsula
- Eski Doğanbey (Domatia) Village and Greek Stone Houses
- Ancient City of Eumeneia and Çivril Işıklı Lake
- Ancient City of Euromos and Temple of Zeus Lepsynos
- Urban and temple layers of Euromos
- Fethiye Afkule Cliffside Rock-Cut Monastery
- Fethiye Gemiler Island (St. Nicholas / Gemile) Byzantine Pilgrimage Basilicas
- Fethiye Kayaköy (Levissi) Ghost Village Greek Stone Houses
- Fethiye Yeşilüzümlü Cadianda Ancient City and Traditional Dastar Weaving
- Günlüklü Bay
- Halicarnassus Ancient City Birthplace of Master Sculptor Bryaxis and Mausoleum Workshop
- Halicarnassus Ancient City Birthplace of Master Sculptor Hegesander and Laocoön Sanctuary
- Halicarnassus Ancient City Mausoleum West Gallery of Sculptor Leochares
- Halicarnassus Ancient City Birthplace of Master Sculptor Timotheus and Mausoleum Sanctuary
- Ancient City of Halicarnassus and Bodrum
- Urban layers of Halicarnassus
- Herakleia ad Latmum and Latmos Prehistoric Rock Paintings
- Ancient City of Herakleia Salbake and Medical School
- Layers of Herakleia, Latmos and Bafa
- Ancient City of Hierapolis and Pamukkale Travertines
- Honaz Ancient City of Colossae and St. Michael Sanctuary
- Mount Honaz (Kadmos) 2,571m Peak National Park
- Honaz Kaklık Cave Underground Pamukkale
- Ancient City of Iasos and Fish Market Museum
- Kabak Bay
- Ladies Beach
- Kale Tabea (Tabae) Ancient City and Cevher Pasha Mosque
- Karacasu 5,000-Year-Old Red Clay Pottery Workshops and Kilns
- Karacasu Yeşilyurt Historic Stone Water Mills along Dandalas Stream
- Karadere–Kumluova Beach
- Karina Historic Stone Pier and Menderes Delta Fisheries Lagoon
- Caryanda Ancient City Birthplace of Admiral Scylax and Naval Harbor
- Katrancı Bay Nature Park
- Ancient City of Kaunos and Dalyan Rock Tombs
- Harbour, urban and rock-tomb layers of Kaunos
- Butterfly Valley
- Ancient City of Keramos and Kurşunlu Yapı
- Ancient City of Knidos
- Knidos Ancient City Birthplace of Astronomer Sosigenes and Julian Calendar Observatory
- Knidos Ancient City Birthplace of Geographer Agatharchides and Military Harbor
- Knidos Ancient City Birthplace of Royal Physician Chrysermus and Alexandrian Medical Atelier
- Knidos Ancient City Birthplace of Experimental Physician Chrysippus and Medical School
- Knidos Ancient City Birthplace of Physician Ctesias and Persica Library
- Knidos Ancient City Birthplace of Physician Erasistratus and Medical School
- Terrace, harbour and production layers of Knidos
- Koçarlı Amyzon Karian Sanctuary and Artemis Temple
- Koçarlı Cihanoğlu Complex, Mosque, and Stone Defense Tower
- Köyceğiz Lake, Kaunos Saltworks and Dalyan Channels
- Sanctuary and mountain terraces of Labraunda
- Sanctuary of Zeus Labraundos at Labraunda
- Sanctuary of Hekate at Lagina
- Sanctuary and ceremonial layers of Lagina
- Ancient City of Laodicea on the Lycus
- Lycus Valley layers of Laodicea
- Letoon Lycian Sanctuary and Trilingual Inscription
- Magnesia ad Maeandrum Birthplace of Master Architect Pytheos and Artemis Temple
- Magnesia Ancient City Birthplace of Rhetorician Hegesias and Artemis Agora
- Magnesia Ancient City Birthplace of Architect Menesthes and Temple of Artemis Leukophryene
- Manastır Bay
- Mastaura Ancient City Birthplace of Rhetorician Diophanes and Circular Amphitheater
- Ancient City of Mastaura and Round Roman Amphitheater
- Mastaura: valley and passage layers
- Medet Mound (Apollonia Salbake) and Bektashi Tekke
- Milas Chalcetor (Karakuyu) Ancient City and Karian Fortifications
- Milas Tuzla Lagoon and Greater Flamingo Sanctuary
- Milas: Mylasa, Uzunyuva and Baltalı Kapı
- Miletus archaeological site and urban layers
- Ancient City of Miletus
- Miletus Ancient City and Birthplace of Cartographer Hecataeus of Miletus
- Mobolla (Asar Castle) and Saburhane Stone Mansions
- Ancient City of Myus
- Ancient City of Nysa ad Maeandrum and Canyon Library
- Nysa Ancient City Birthplace of Aristodemus and Two-Story Library
- Nysa Ancient City Birthplace of Grammarian Dionysius Thrax and Two-Story Library
- Nysa Ancient City Birthplace of Grammarian Menestheus and Library
- Nysa Ancient City Geography Academy and Library Study Site of Strabo
- Nysa Ancient City Canyon Vaulted Water Tunnel
- Gorge and urban layers of Nysa
- Ortaca Dalyan Radar Hill Summit and İztuzu Caretta Caretta Habitat
- Palamutbükü Bay, Ancient Amphora Kilns, and Datça
- Ancient City of Pinara and Rock-Cut Hive Tombs
- Ancient City of Priene
- Priene Ancient City and Birthplace of Bias of Priene (One of the Seven Sages)
- Urban layers of Priene
- Priene/Miletus Birthplace of Hagia Sophia Master Architect Isidore and Acropolis
- Reşadiye Mehmet Ali Bey Mansion and Old Datça
- Sarıgerme Beach
- Sarsala Bay
- Seikilos Epitaph Stele (Tralleis Music Inscription)
- Serinhisar 500-Year-Old Historic Roasted Chickpea Workshops and Ovens
- Serinhisar Yatağan 800-Year-Old Forged Steel Blade and Sword Workshops
- Sevgi Beach
- Seydikemer Saklıkent Canyon 18 km Giant Gorge
- Seydikemer Yaka Park (Yakaköy) Akdağ Spring Waterfalls and Watermills
- Ancient City of Sidyma and Roman Heroon
- Stratonikeia Ancient City Birthplace of Philosopher Metrodorus and Academic Assembly
- Ancient City of Stratonikeia and Eskihisar Village
- Urban and Eskihisar layers of Stratonikeia
- Sultanhisar Atça 1926 Radial-Grid Master Plan and Republican Reconstruction
- Historic Buldan Weaving Houses and Hand Looms Workshops
- Tavas Hırka Village 18th-Century Natural-Dyed Timber Mosque
- Tavşanburnu Nature Park
- Ancient City of Telmessos and Amyntas Rock Tombs
- Thebae ad Mycalem Fortress and Güllübahçe St. Nicholas Church
- Ancient City of Tlos and Bellerophontes Tomb
- Tralles Ancient City Birthplace of Geometrician Metrodorus and Mathematics School
- Tralleis Ancient City Birthplace of Sculptor Apollonius and Üç Gözler Gymnasium
- Tralles Ancient City Birthplace of Sculptor Apollonius and Marble Atelier
- Tralles Ancient City Birthplace of Imperial Physician Alexander and Üç Gözler Medical School
- Ancient City of Tralleis and Üç Gözler Gymnasion
- Plateau and urban layers of Tralleis
- Ancient City of Tripolis ad Maeandrum and Marble Colonnaded Street
- Road and urban layers of Tripolis
- Yatağan Gerga Karian Sanctuary and Stone Monuments
- Yenipazar Yörük Ali Efe House Museum and Memorial Grave