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The origins and earliest history of Milets are still a subject of controversy. The name
"Milawanda" that occurs in Hittite texts may well refer to Miletus. The excavations
undertaken so far have reached as far as the Bronze Age. The first excavations
were conducted by the German archaeologist Theodor Wiegand but these were
several times interrupted by wars and various other events. Excavations were resumed
by Gerhard Kleiner and continued by Werner MüllerWiener. |
Miletos is one of the oldest cities of Ionia, located north of Soke, about 60 km away
from Kusadasi. The city was on the point where the Buyuk Menderes ("Meander") flew
into the Aegean Sea. Because of the alluviums, Miletos has been remote several
times from sea, which explains that one can see today different harbors. |
Miletos was also the city of many scientists and philosophers such as Thales,
Anaximander, Hekataios (principle source to Herodotos) and closer to us,
Isidorus, the architect of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. Miletos had its alphabet
recognized by the Greek world as the official Greek alphabet, basis of the
current Latin alphabet.
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In the Xth BC, Miletos has been invaded by Ionians and the city reached its
apogee in the VIIth and VIth centuries and developed in one of the most
significant cities of Ionia. In 494 BC, the Tyran (prince - governor) of Miletos,
Aristagoras, started the "Ionia Rebellion" against the Persians where they
collected some success at first but at the end lost the war. The Persians
demolished the city and sent its habitants to Mesopotamia. In 344 BC,
Alexander the Great invaded the city and had its trade redeveloped.
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In 200 BC, Miletos became the dominion of the Myceneans, fact that is shown by
the style of the ceramics in the houses and the city walls. During the Roman
Empire, it became an independent city and later a bishopric at early Christian
times. During the Byzantine period Miletos was called "Ania". As of that time,
due to geographic and climatic changes, the city completely lost of its
importance and was to be abandoned.
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The most important monuments to be seen at Miletos are: the Bath of Faustina,
the Delphinion (small temple dedicated to Apollo Delphinion, protector of ships and
harbors) and the amphitheater.
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