Friday 31st September, 2011
I feel a little ashamed that I didn’t know any of the history of this country. At every turn there is a reference to Eros or Aphrodite, Artemis or Apollo, Athena or Helena and the important part they played in the lives of the early communities.
Today we visited three smaller sites. The first was Priene which was visited by Alexander the Great in 334 BC when he funded the building of the Temple to Athena. Little remains of this bustling coastal city which now lies 16 klms inland owing to silting of its harbour. The town was set out on a grid with temples, gymnasium, streets and houses, meeting halls, administration offices a theatre and the Temple to Athena . The theatre dates from the 3rd century BC and could hold over 5000 spectators. It had an 18m long marble stage and an orchestra pit bordered by 5 marble armchairs which were reserved for high officials. The only part of the Temple of Athena still standing are the 5 columns of the temples façade.
The second and third sites were Miletus and Didyma both fine examples of ancient cities. This fine carving is of Medusa from the Temple of Apollo at Didyma. We are still travelling east along the coast and spent Friday night in a town called Marmaris built on a narrow strip of land at the foot of pine tree covered hills. This beautiful area specialises in all kinds of water sports and beach side tourism…. think mini Gold Coast and its similar tourist strips… I did do some shopping; 10 DVD’s for about $16. Hope they work!!!
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