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The Aegean
Gentle Aegean an breezes blow over the sapphire gulfs and ruffle the silvergreen leaves of the olive trees along this coast that witnessed the dawn of Western civilization.
Here stands Homer's Troy, one of the most evocative sites of antiquity, recalling the epic struggle of the lliad. Of the settlement mound's nine levels, the sixthis presumed to be Homer's Troy. To the south lie the ruins of the great city of Pergamon a centre of learning and the arts, which possessed one of the great city of libraries of antiquity containing 200.000 books. Not far from Pergamon's Acropolis are the ruins of the Asclepieion, one of the foremost medical centres of Classical times. Contrasting with the tranquility of these ancient sites is the gaiety of the
seaside resorts.The capital of the Turkish Aegean is Izmir, the birth-place of Homer.
This modern city with its large hotels and palm lined avenues, possesses one of the five finest natural harbours on the Mediterranean.
Overlooking the city is Kadifekale or the Velvet Castle, originally built by one of Alexander the Great's generals. To the north of Izmir is the resort of Ayvalık, near which is the high escarpment known as Şeytan Sofrası or Satan's Table, from which there is a splendid view of the Aegean coast and islands. Further to the south is thelittle resorttown of Foça, whose inhabitants founded such towns as Marseilles and Nice. To the west of Izmir is the resort of Çeşme, famous for its crystal sea and thermal springs, and to the attractive resort of Kuşadası, surrounded by many sandy bays.
Trojen Horse
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In the centre of Turkey's Aegean coast lies the region of ancient ıonia, with the ruins of Ephesus, priene, Mitelos and Didyma, all reflecting the timeless grace of ıonian architecture. Few cities can claim that their names are so closely linked with mankind's intellecttual advancement as these cities of Western anatolia. For it was here that thinking was first freed from superstition, and that the foundations of experimental science were laid, and that "man became the measure of all things."
Chief among these lonian cities was Ephesus, the Roman capital of Asia, of which St. Paul asked:
ıs there a greater city" Along Ephesus' Arcadian Way, Mark Anthony and Cleopatra once rode in procession, in the great theatre St. Paul preached against the Ephesians goddess Artemis and in a
little houses outside the city, which can still be seen, the Virgin Mary spent her last day.
The other lonian cities also at had important historical roles: Priene's chessboard layout is the oldest example of city planning.
Miletos gave its alphabet to the rest Classical world and Didyma's Temple of Apollo with its famous oracle was one of the most sacred places of antiquity.
Pamukkale Denizli (in the World Heritage List)
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