Oct – Nov 2020

Turkey 2

A 20-day adventure by skip's retirement travel Read more

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skip's retirement travel Turkey 2
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- Day 13
- Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 10:36 AM
- ☀️ 13 °C
- Altitude: 202 m
- Turkey Alaşehir 38.35, 28.5183338°21’0” N 28°31’6” E
Philadelphia
November 7, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C
Another of the churches mentioned in Revelation. Pictures are of the remains of the 6th century church of Saint John. The entire old city is gone with the modern city built on top.
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- Day 13
- Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 11:26 AM
- ☀️ 15 °C
- Altitude: 137 m
- Turkey Temple of Artemis - Sardis 38.48, 28.0316738°28’48” N 28°1’54” E
Temple of Artemis, Sardes
November 7, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
Major temple to Artemis located at Sardes (see another post). This is one of the seven important Artemis temples of Asia Minor. The scale of the place is extraordinary. The columns are original, and the two tall ones are the original size. The 2nd picture is of several capitals.
The last 2 pictures are of a church from about the 5th century. Once Christianity became the official religion of the empire, it was common to build churches at pagan temples as a kind of "We're here now," message.Read more
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- Day 13
- Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 11:53 AM
- ☀️ 17 °C
- Altitude: 113 m
- Turkey Sardis 38.48833, 28.0438°29’18” N 28°2’24” E
Sardes "downtown"
November 7, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
This is the city of another of the churches mentioned in Revelation. Sardes was also the capital of Lydia up until the Persian invasion.
The 1st picture is a wall between the gymnasium (which is the foreground) and the baths behind. It is a restoration, but spectacular. If you look closely, I'm standing in the center arch. The scale is nothing short of monumental. 2nd is a closer look at the columns. I'll leave the inscriptons to the Greek scholars among you to decipher. 3rd is the first room of the bath, the tepidarium, right behind the monumental wall. 4th looks at one of the streets and shops.
The last 2 are significant. This is an ancient synagogue, said to be the largest in Asia Minor and the 3rd largest in the world at the time. It is immediately left of the bath/gymnasium in the first picture. One thing I noticed is that the front of this sanctuary is architecturally the same as the apses in the early churches. I guess that doesn't surprise me as Christianity began as a movement within Judaism. The last picture looks from the forecourt over the fountain and basin used for ritual cleansing before entering the synagogue and then on into the sanctuary. NB. The mosaics on the floor are originalRead more
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- Day 13
- Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 2:49 PM
- ☀️ 23 °C
- Altitude: 10 m
- Turkey Artemis Tapınağı 37.94833, 27.3633337°56’54” N 27°21’48” E
Basilica of Saint John
November 7, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Major church dedicated to Saint John, the disciple who accompanied Mary after the crucification. The basilica was built by Justinian in the 6th century.
The 1st is a photo of a model showing what the original building looked like with its 6 domes. The 2nd overlooks part of the ruins. The 3rd looks down the length of the nave to the apse. Immediately in front of the apse is the site of the tomb of John, shown in the 4th picture. 5th is a baptistry, and 6th is another part of the building complex.Read more
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- Day 14
- Sunday, November 8, 2020 at 8:38 AM
- ☀️ 11 °C
- Altitude: 13 m
- Turkey Lozan Meydanı 37.86333, 27.2616737°51’48” N 27°15’42” E
Morning over the Aegean
November 8, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C
These pictures were taken just after dawn from the rooftop restaurant of a hotel in Kusadasi on the Aegean coast, just after dawn. Kusadasi is s lovely place, worth coming back to.
BTW, that island in the background is Samos, Greece.Read more
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- Day 14
- Sunday, November 8, 2020 at 11:10 AM
- ☀️ 16 °C
- Altitude: 401 m
- Turkey Sultaniye 37.91167, 27.3333337°54’42” N 27°19’60” E
Mary's House
November 8, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
Tradition holds that Mary, the mother of Jesus, lived out her last years with the apostle John, in a small house hidden in the hills above Ephesus. This is believed to be the place.
The current building on the site is a chapel built on the foundation found here. A close look at the building will show a slight color difference between the original stone foundation and the later chapel. In the background of the 3rd picture is a worship service, as it was a Sunday. What surprised me was that it was not an Orthodox service but s Roman Catholic mass. And it was being said in English. 4th is the location of the spring that made living here possible. 5th is an ancient cistern. Last is a statue of Mary, presented by a Christan group in the US.Read more
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- Day 14
- Sunday, November 8, 2020 at 11:31 AM
- ☀️ 17 °C
- Altitude: 65 m
- Turkey Acarlar 37.93167, 27.34537°55’54” N 27°20’42” E
Ephesus, Upper City
November 8, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
Ephesus was a major city, capital of the Roman province of Asia Minor. There were typically 2 separate parts of the city in those days. The upper city was the elite and government area. Regular folks weren't allowed in.
The 1st picture is the state agora. Important government and philosophical discussions occurred here. No commerce. 2nd is the Odeon that served as the parliament of the province and a small venue for music, lectures, etc. 3rd is the main street of the upper city. 4th is the beginning of the processional way, used for festival processions from the upper city to important temples. 5th shows an in tact statue of Artemis found during excavations. Last is a Roman latrine.Read more
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- Day 14
- Sunday, November 8, 2020 at 12:24 PM
- ☀️ 20 °C
- Altitude: 18 m
- Turkey Curetes Street, Ephesus 37.93833, 27.3416737°56’18” N 27°20’30” E
Terrace Houses, Ephesus
November 8, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
These are homes of the wealthy, built on a hillside. They are extraordinarily spectacular. The pictures hardly do justice to what has been preserved/restored. The frescoes, mosaics, etc are all original.Read more
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- Day 14
- Sunday, November 8, 2020 at 12:49 PM
- ☀️ 20 °C
- Altitude: 18 m
- Turkey Curetes Street, Ephesus 37.93833, 27.3416737°56’18” N 27°20’30” E
Ephesus, Lower City
November 8, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
This is where everyone else lived, worked, played, traded, etc. This area ran from the harbor up to the gate of Herakles (1st picture) which divided the upper and lower cities. Due to sedimentation, the seashore is now 9 km from here. That is why the city was abandoned.
The 2nd picture is of the facade of the 3rd largest library in antiquity. The gates in the 3rd picture are adjacent to the library and were built by 2 slaves, thanking an emperor for becoming his slaves. (Once a people were conquered, they became slaves, even the wealthy. Hence a couple rich guys said thanks for being taken into the emperor's service.) 4th is the commercial agora in the lower city where all the business, shopping, trading, etc. was done. Adjacent to the lower agora is the street to the harbor that runs to where the harbor used to be. Last is the largest theater in Asia Minor, seating about 25,000.Read more
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- Day 14
- Sunday, November 8, 2020 at 1:22 PM
- ☀️ 22 °C
- Altitude: 9 m
- Turkey Ancient Church of Mary - Meryem Kilisesi, Ephesus 37.945, 27.3383337°56’42” N 27°20’18” E
Mary Church
November 8, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
The first church named for the mother of Jesus and the site of the third ecumenical council in 431 AD. The building from that time has been rebuilt, replaced, etc. What remains are the ruins and restorations of later buildings on the site.
The photos start from the courtyard. Next is a doorway to the church. The next 3 step progressively forward from the doorway, past what appears to be a water bath for ablutions, and then approaching the apse. I'm told the building is about 140 meters long.Read more
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- Day 14
- Sunday, November 8, 2020 at 2:15 PM
- ☀️ 21 °C
- Altitude: 331 m
- Turkey Şirince 37.94333, 27.4333337°56’36” N 27°25’60” E
Sirince
November 8, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
An old town that had been Greek prior to the population exchange in 1923 like Karaköy (see other post). The difference, of course, is that this is still an active village that gives a sense of what such places were/are like--particularly the houses on the hillside.
The pictures are a couple looks at the houses, a couple street scenes and finally a wine shop. There is a bigger wine industry in Turkey than I expected. After tasting several reds, I can says they weren't bad.Read more
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- Day 15
- Monday, November 9, 2020 at 9:40 AM
- ☀️ 11 °C
- Altitude: 10 m
- Turkey Artemis Tapınağı 37.94833, 27.3633337°56’54” N 27°21’48” E
Temple of Artemis
November 9, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C
One of the 7 wonders of the ancient world, destroyed in the 4th century. Only 1 column remains. Most were reused elsewhere, including in Hagia Sophia (see post from last year). In the 1st picture overlooking part of the temple, you can see 3 religions: The pagan the temple; a mosque up the hill to toward the left; and the 4 pillars at the top right are at the basilica of St. John. The 3rd photo shows the original floor.Read more
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- Day 15
- Monday, November 9, 2020 at 12:47 PM
- ☀️ 19 °C
- Altitude: 65 m
- Turkey Red Hall Basilica - Temple of Egyptian Goddesses, Pergamon 39.12167, 27.1833339°7’18” N 27°10’60” E
Red Hall, Pergamon
November 9, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
One of the few ancient structures remaining from the lower city of Pergamom, now called Bergama. Red Hall is the local name for the building, made of brick.
The building was originally constructed as a temple to Isis that was later converted to a church. Pergamon is another of the cities mentioned in Revelation, but this building is newer than 1st century when Revelation is usually dated. The biblical text references the throne of Satan which may have been the altar to Zeus.
The 1st picture looks down on the Red Hall from the road to the acropolis. The next 3 are closer looks at the building, including a newer statue with an Egyptian style. Last is the interior of one of the towers.Read more
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- Day 15
- Monday, November 9, 2020 at 1:24 PM
- ☀️ 20 °C
- Altitude: 310 m
- Turkey Pergamon 39.13167, 27.18539°7’54” N 27°11’6” E
Pergamom Acropolis
November 9, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
The upper city of a typical Greco-Roman city and one of the better preserved jn Asia Minor. The lower city was mostly built over. Sadly, the altar of Zeus was in great shape, but is in a museum in Berlin.
The 1st two pictures are of the temple of Trajan, built by Hadrian in the 2nd century. The lower arches held a sacrificial altar. The 3rd looks across what was a royal palace. 4th is the theater, said to be the steepest in the world. It is hellenistic architecture, as much as 400 years older than other theaters I've seen. The 5th looks across what was the hero's house, and last is the view from the top.Read more
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- Day 15
- Monday, November 9, 2020 at 4:46 PM
- ☀️ 19 °C
- Altitude: 24 m
- Turkey Troy 39.95667, 26.2439°57’24” N 26°14’24” E
Troy
November 9, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
Hugely important ancient city, known to most of us from Homer's Iliad. Troy is located at the mouth of the Dardanelles, the entry to the Sea of Marmara, Istanbul, the Bosporus and Black Sea. They had great wealth from controlling the major trade route, which, when you come right down to it, is what the Trojan War was probably all about. It seems likely that Helen running off was an excuse.
Troy dates back 5,000 years and has 10 distinct layers. Troy of the Iliad is the 6th layer or Troy VI.
The 1st picture is a life size construction of what the horse may have looked like. 2&3 are the south and east gates to the city that are thought to have been part of Troy VI. 4th is a later ceremonial area. 5th is the original well dating back to Troy I. Last is a decorative ceiling piece. Even today, ceiling pieces are often recessed like this to reduce weight.Read more
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- Day 16
- Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at 8:37 AM
- ⛅ 15 °C
- Altitude: 8 m
- Turkey Şair Ece Ayhan Meydanı 40.15, 26.4033340°9’0” N 26°24’12” E
Dardanelles
November 10, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
Major transportation artery that controls water borne shipping to Istanbul and the Black Sea from the Mediterranean. This has always been a strategic prize and economic generator for whoever could control it. (See posts for Troy and Gallipoli for examples.)
The posts look at both the Asian and European sides, then both directions from the ferry crossing at the narrowest point near Çannekale.Read more
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- Day 16
- Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at 9:40 AM
- ⛅ 15 °C
- Altitude: 11 m
- Turkey Arı Burnu 40.24167, 26.2816740°14’30” N 26°16’54” E
Gallipoli
November 10, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
In recognition of my down under friends. Gallipoli was a major battle of WW 1 that involved troops from Australia and New Zealand. Having been at the ANZAC memorial in Alice Springs, I can understand a bit more of the importance all this holds.
The 1st picture is ANZAC Bay where that expeditionary force landed. 2nd is a statue commemorating a Turkish soldier who carried a wound allied soldier back to the allied lines. 3rd is the Lone Pine Australian memorial and cemetery. 4th is a look over the battlefield. 5th is an NZ memorial.Read more
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- Day 17
- Wednesday, November 11, 2020 at 12:14 PM
- ⛅ 16 °C
- Altitude: 5 m
- Turkey Adalar 40.87466, 29.131240°52’29” N 29°7’52” E
Büyükada
November 11, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Now, for a last post from Turkey: Büyükada is the largest of the Prince Islands (sometimes called Prince's Islands), a 9 island archipelago in the Sea of Marmara, southeast of Istanbul.
The 1st picture looks from the ferry to the island. The next 4 are typical scenes around Büyükada. The last looks from the island harbor across to part of the Asian half of Istanbul.Read more
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Trip end
November 14, 2020