The SEVEN CHURCHES of the APOCOLYPSE
The final "book" of the Christian Bible’s New Testament is "Revelation" – a
vision of the end of world and "Judgement Day", or, perhaps, an obscured,
euphamistic pep-talk for the new Christian communities struggling under Roman
rule.
At the beginning of Revelation, a celestial being admonishes & advises seven
"churches" (communities of Christians rather than buildings):
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• Ephesus (Selcuk) - Rev 2 vs 1-7
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Smyrna (Izmir) – vs 8- 11
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Pergamum (Bergama) – vs 12 – 17
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Thyatira (Akhisar) – vs 18 – 29 |
• Sardis (Sart) – Rev 3 vs 1 –6
• Philadelphia (Alasehir) vs 7 – 13
• Laodicea (Goncali, Denizli) vs 14 - 22 |
- ALL can be reached from Selcuk.
- IF;
a) using Selcuk as a base and
b) using private transport, it can typically take up to 5 days to
visit all Seven locations.
(see below for an example done by one group).
- Public transport is available but takes longer.
- Tours are available but usually have minimum number requirements. "Off
season" this may be difficult to achieve.
A SUGGESTION WHEN USING Selcuk AS A
BASE (5 days):
1. Ephesus (Selcuk): local; easy
2. Smyrna (Izmir): public transport to Izmir, then taxis
3. Sardis (Sart) PLUS Philadelphia (Alasehir): by private
transport
4. Pergamum (Bergama) PLUS Thyatira (Akhisar): by private
transport
5. Laodicea (Goncali, Denizli): added onto Pamukkale; Laodicea leg by
taxi or private transport.
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For some itineraries a DAY TRIP may be your best choice....
All are possible from Selcuk. Some will need an early start though !
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PAMUKKALE
(A UNESCO World Heritage Site & "Natural Wonder
of the World")
- 3 hours from Selcuk lies the famous "white terraces" of Pamukkale.
People do this very popular day trip from Selcuk everyday of the year !
- View the "Travertines" (Calcium terraces), improved and healing year by year,
and again white and clean.
- For their ongoing protection people are restricted as to where they can walk
and the water flow is being controlled by professionals to achieve the best
possible outcome.
- On the plateau at the top are the ruins of the ancient Roman
Bath Town Hieropolis, with the largest Roman Graveyard in Asia Minor, excellent
Theatre, Martyrium and the beautiful "Sacred Pool of the Romans" with its fallen
pillars and warm bubbly mineral water.
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- Here you CAN swim - ALL year round, even in the snow!
Bring your
SWIMSUIT & GOGGLES !
- Laodikya - one of the Seven Churches of the Apocolypse - is nearby.
- Sometimes day tripping is best, other times Pamukkale is a convenient
"stepping stone" to break a long journey to your next destination south or
inland.
APHRODISIAS
"Imagine coming upon a city of antiquity so rich in archeological treasure
that choice sculptures roll off the sides of ditches, tumble from old walls and
lie jam-packed amid colonnaded ruins"
Prof. Kenan Erim - the excavator of Aphrodisias, Berlitz Guide |
- Likened to Renaissance Florence for its importance as a centre of the arts,
this centre of Aphrodite / Venus worship rivals Ephesus as one of the very best
classical ruins in Turkey - or anywhere.
- Of particular note are its fabulous museum, packed indoors and out with
exceptional sculpture, blue marble and the largest and best preserved
Greek sports stadium known in the classical world.
- Situated between Selcuk and Pamukkale there are tours and public
transport from both towns. Connections are from Nazili or Denizli via Karacasu.
~2 hours from Selcuk.
For more on Aphrodisias visit
here!
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BERGAMA & PERGAMUM
"A dazzling Centre of cultural activity in antiquity, Pergamum had one of the
richest libraries in the world and was one of the major centres of medicine and
healing."
Let's Go Turkey
Its also one of the "Seven Churches of the Apocolypse" admonished in The Book of
Revelation. Visit the Acropolis, from where the "Altar of Zeus"
was removed to Berlin, the "Asclepion" : a ancient ruined
hospital, with its opium tunnel, where Galen, the "Father of Surgery", founded
the modern health principles of relaxation, nutrition and exercise, the massive
"Red Basilica", a former temple to Egyptian gods and the Museum. 3.5
hours from Selcuk.
And for more info on Pergamum and the Seven Churches visit
here!
SAMOS
April - September only: Leave Selcuk at 0700, the ferry leaves Kusadasi
0830, arriving at 10-1030 am. Check in to return is at 1600. This is very simple
to arrange when you are here.
For info on Getting to and from Samos see our Getting Here page, Ferry section.
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Izmir
Izmir is a huge modern town - the third largest in Turkey after İstanbul and
Ankara - where few Tourists venture. There are some scant classical ruins and an
archeology museum of interest to classics enthusiasts. The "Konak" area offers
the bazaar and Alsancak, some beautiful Ottoman houses, cafes and restaurants.
The Bus station is way out of the centrum and shuttle buses are available. ~1
hour from Selcuk. Taking a map is highly advisable.
Turkish Airlines "Skylife" magazine article:
Izmir Archaeological Museum
TIRE, BIRGI and GOLCUK
"You'll be leaving Tourist Turkey Behind ...." says the Berlitz Guide of
three country towns and villages North East of Selcuk - and so you will:
they are rarely mentioned in Guide Books!
50 minutes from Selcuk, TIRE's
Tuesday market is reputed to be the best Market in the Aegean, a
half or full day trip in its own right. Old women still wear long white veils in
this conservative town. Its 15th Century Mosques, Kervansaray and tradesmen
practising trades such as lining vessels with tin will have you "stepping back
in time"!
Turkish Airlines "Skylife" magazine article on
Tire's last shoemaker - Nalin
"Nothing seems to have been built in BIRGI for at least 100 years"
Berlitz writes of the ancient village clinging to both sides of a deep valley.
People visit it for its 1302 ULU MOSQUE- a masterpiece built of "Classical
Junk", with its forest of classical pillars and outstanding wood inlay
craftsmanship. It also boasts one of the finest "Konak"s (Old Ottoman Mansions)
in all of Turkey - now a museum (Closed Mondays - Market Day).
Turkish Airlines "Skylife" magazine article:
Discovering the wonders of
"Birgi"
Its not often that one finds a lake in the woods - half way up a mountain! But
that's exactly what GOLCUK is! A favourite summer picnic spot of Turks
with spectacular scenery and DELICIOUS catfish ! Continue beyond these sites to
SARDIS and "1000 Hills": the Royal Cemetry of Sardis with its plain of Burial
Mounds...
This inland district contains countless other non-touristic villages such as
Bayandır, Kiraz and Bademli.
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SARDIS
"If even half of what Herodotus has to say about the Mermnad Dynasty is true,
it's no wonder that he found them so interesting.... (under them) Sardis was one
of the richest and most sophisticated cities in the world, capital of the
powerful Lydian Empire that reached to Iran..."
Berlitz Guide
Coins were invented here ! The term "to be fleeced" came from here ! Its in the
story of King Midas & the Golden Touch! One of its legends (Gyrges) is told in
"The English Patient". AND its one of the "Seven Churches of the Apocolypse" !
This small but immaculately restored ruin is "out of the way" and rarely visited
but is of particular significance to those interested in Christian, Jewish and
Classical history. Approximately 2.5 hours from Selcuk, it is also
reachable by car from Birgi etc.
Turkish Airlines "Skylife" magazine article:
The Seven churches of Asia Minor
PRIENE, MILETUS & DIDYMA "PMD"
"Ephesus may be the creme-de-la-creme of the Aegean archeological sites but
south of Kusadasi are the ruins of 3 other very ancient and important
settlements, well-worth a day trip."
Lonely Planet
"PMD" ,as they are affectionately known, is an immensely popular day trip from
Selcuk. All 3 sites can be visited in one day by either tour or "No
Frills" Minibus but tours are very cost-competetive. Alternatively people
travelling south and not wishing to return to Selcuk may use public
transport although it is impossible to visit all three in one day on Public
Transport AND return to Selcuk. Priene and Didyma are straighforward but
we have observed that getting to Miletus by public transport is often a problem,
especially off season.
Enthusiasts usually choose to go to just one or two sites per day by public
transport.
Patronised by Alexander the Great but later poor, Priene was never
altered from its original Greek form. The best Ionian ruin in Turkey and noted
for its striking setting, beauty and positive energy, Priene is a great
favourite. See the spectacular "5 pillars" against the backdrop of sheer Mt.
Mykale and the theatre with its stone thrones with foot stools and finger rests
- such a treat ! Anthony & Cleopatra were entertained there!
Turkish Airlines "Skylife" magazine article:
Priene city of Athena
Miletus. "Why should you bother? Simply because it was one of the
most important cities in the ancient Greek world..."
Berlitz Guide
In its heyday it had 100 colonies as far afield as Trabzon, and 4 harbours, into
which St. Paul sailed (Acts 20). The stone Lions, the symbol of Miletus, that
once held chains across the harbour remain. There must have been "something in
the water" here that made people clever, as many famous classical thinkers came
from here including Thales ("Know Thyself", Delphi) and Isidorus, the architect
of Aya Sofya. Its showpieces include the best Greco-Roman Theatre in the
country, stoa and the intact Roman Bath Swimming Pool. The small hillocks on the
plain before the theatre were once islands in the sea. There, the Miletians were
once defeated by the Persians while the population watched.
Turkish Airlines "Skylife" magazine article:
Miletus
TEMPLE of APOLLO at DIDYMA is a clue as to what the Temple of Artemis was
like. Dedicated to Artemis' twin brother this is the last remaining of the 3
grandest temples of ancient Greece. An oracle temple as important as Delphi and
run by Delphinians, it was never completed in 1,700 years of use. The
architectural plans that were etched into the inner walls are still faintly
visible. Marvel at its beautiful decoration, "luxor-like" pillars and stupendous
size!
Turkish Airlines "Skylife" magazine article:
An ancient centre of prophecy -
Didyma's Temple of Apollo
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MISCELLANEOUS CLASSICAL SITES
- These lesser-known ancient ruins & sites are of interest to Classics and Archeology specialists.
- All can be reached from Selcuk. Many will require private transport.
- Excavations may be scant or non-existant.
- Some may be closed off and require permission to access.
- Archeology / Classics Students and Graduates: bring documentation eg a letter of introduction from your professor or an Archeology / classics faculty ID card - it can open doors !
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• Teos
• Myonnesus
• Claros
• Notion
• Neopolis
• Bonita
• Geraesticus
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• Colophon
• Alaena
• Karine
• Assessos
• Myus & Myous
• Teichiusa
• Nyssa
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• Belevi
• Herakleia Ad Latmos
• Laodicea
• Magnesia-on-Meander
• Euromos
AND MORE ! |
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DILEK NATIONAL PARK "Milli Parki"
- This is 28,000 acres of thick woods and pristine beaches, 28 km south of
Kusadasi.
- One of the most unspoiled in the Aegean, partly due to most of it being a
restricted military zone!
- It is home to local wildlife such as bears, jackals, boars & rare lynx.
- Birdwatchers can see 209 species including flamingoes . "Zeus' Cave", fishing,
cycling and walking are all enjoyed here.
Turkish Airlines "Skylife" magazine article:
Dilek Peninsula National Park
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MILAS
Milas is easy to overlook but is well worth an visit by enthusiasts of old
Turkish towns. The old quarter has a tradesmen's bazaar straight out of
yesteryear.
The amazing Temple of Zeus at the ruins of Euromos is located immediately
north - east of the town and visible from the highway. 2 hours south of
Selcuk.
Turkish Airlines "Skylife" magazine article:
Milas - Sacred city of antiquity |
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BODRUM
It is possible to visit the Castle of St. Peter Underwater Archeology Museum and
site of the Mausoleum of Mausolus (yet another Wonder of the Ancient World) as a
day trip from Selcuk. Tuesday to Friday are the best days to find
everything open. 3 hours from Selcuk. |
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MUGLA
A large town with an unspoiled traditional "old quarter". 3 hours south of
Selcuk.
Turkish Airlines "Skylife" magazine article:
Mugla - A town which did not surrender to the 20th century
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