Ancient Cities Aydin

Nyssa The source of what we know about this Nyssa (Nisa), founded on the slopes of Mount Malgaç, north of Sultanhisar in where now olive groves, is the geographer Strabo. Made up of two parts due to the fact that it was built on a stream, the city was first called Athymbra after the wife of its founder, the Selecuid king Antiochus I. The primary remains are the two-story library built by Aristodem, a native of Nyssa, a water depot belonging to the Hellenistic era, a stadium and bridge from the Roman era, the agora and necropolis on the Acharaka road.

Alabanda A Carian city whose name comes from a combination of the Carian words for horse (ALA) and victory (BANDA). Remains that can still be seen include the wall fortified with towers, the theater, the senato, the agora and memorial graves. There is also a Roman aqueduct over Kemer Creek to the south. Alaband was known in the ancient world for several crafts peculiar to the city, including crystal, various decorative items made from a hard black stone, fishing nets and rose gardening.

Priene An important episcopal see in the Byzantine era, the ancient city Priene north of Miletus was given a very geometric design of intersecting right angles. The most important structure in the city is the Temple of Athena on the top of the hill. In addition, northeast of the city is a 5000 person theater constructed in the Hellenistic era which is definitely worth seeing.

Miletus Located on north of Didim, Miletus was a coastal city with 4 ports and one of the most important Ionian settlements. Its golden age was the 6th and 7th centuries BC. During this period thinkers in Miletus were putting down what would become the foundation of Western science and culture. The 5300 person theater built in the Hellenistic era was later added on to by the Romans and had a final seating capacity of 15,000.

Tralles (Tiral) Located only 1 km from Aydın, what we know about the city, is limited to what has come down to us from the geographer Strabo. Its first appearance in the historical record is in the 4th century BC during the war of independence waged by the Spartan general Thibron against the Persians.

During the Hellenistic era, the city changed hands frequently. In 26 BC, while a part of the Roman Empire, it suffered some damage from an earthquake and was repaired by the Emperor Augustus and renamed Caesarea. From the time that it passed into the hands of the Turks in the 12th century until the present it has been called "three-eyes" among the people. A few remains of the theater to the north and the 'cavea' are about all that remain. Excavations begun in 1997 have uncovered a Roman bath, an arsenal used during the Greek, Roman and Byzantine eras and a building thought to have been used for worship in the Byzantine period. All of the items recovered from the site whether from older digs or the more recent ones are on exhibit in the Aydın Museum.

Aphrodisias This city was one of the leading centers of architecture, art, sculpture and worship in the ancient world. The Byzantine write Stephanos places the foundation of the city back to the 13th century BC. This Carian city 12 km southeast of Karacasu experienced its golden age in the Roman era, during which time marble statue and structures of extraordinary beauty were built so much so that a school of art known as the Aphrodisias style was developed.

Archeological research has shown that architecture and sculpture were not the only types of study done in the city but that medicine and astronomy were researched as well. The city's primary structures of interest are the baths built during the reign of Hadrian, the agora with its large fountain, the Temple of Aphrodite built in the 1st century BC, the 30,000 person theater, the theater baths and odeon, the episcopal palace and the school of philosophy. The Museum of Aphrodisias has one of the richest collections found in any local museum in Turkey.

Panionium Located in the town of Davutlar near Kuşadası, it was the center of the Ionian League of antiquity. The Ionians met here to make decisions.
Neopolis Right beside Kuşadası, at a place called Yılancı Burun (Snake Nose). It is the earliest settlement in the area.

Didyma Near the town of Didim, it was in the center of prophetic oracles in antiquity. The Temple of Apollon in Didim was planned as a dipteros (having two rows of columns) but was never finished.

Myus Near Didim, an important member of the Ionian League.

Iassos Situated near Didim, this ancient city was famous for its theater dedicated to Dionysos, the god of wine, and the festivals held there. Its music and theatrical productions were well-known throughout the ancient world.

Gerga It is located near Çine. The enormous human statues which have slid off their pedestals and fallen to the ground and the stones which have "Gerga" inscribed on them are particularly interesting.

Alında Located near Karpuzlu, it is the granite city of Queen Ada. Important remains include a theater with 35 rows of seats, a two-story tower, the agora and the city walls.

Mastaura (Mastavra) Close to Nazilli, it used to be a commercial center which minted money. In the ruins can be seen the city walls, the theater, aqueducts and a few other structures.

Magnesia It is near Ortaklar in Germencik. Because it was the scene of several important events, it is described as the 'city of episodes.' There are the remains of temples to Artemis and Zeus from the 3rd century BC, an agora, baths, a theater, stadium and gymnasium, as well as Byzantine walls.

Orthasia (Ortosi) Near Yenipazar, there is a acropolis on a hill overlooking the Menderes valley.

Nyssa (Nisa) Near Sultanhisar, it was a science and teaching center. The remains of the theater, stadium, gymnasium, agora, library, buluterion and necropolis can still be seen.

Acharaka (Akaraka) In Sultanhisar near the village of Salavatlı, reference is made to a health center here. The Temple of Plutonium and the 'health-giving' water and gases in Charonium cave are also mentioned.