7 Priene Didim Kapikiri Euromos

We are off to the coast and it’s a scenic journey off the beaten path down coastal roads and past inland lakes

Priene is ancient Greek city now not so close to the sea as the land has been silted up , long shire drift and a bit of land mass rising ! It is however a geographical first ! Out there on the plain is the river Meander! That river that gave us meandering river courses !
And behind the ancient city is a huge rocky hill on top of which sits a temple , Parthenon like - but it’s too far to get to !

There are a large number of Hellenistic temples, a theatre, ruined columns, and buildings all crammed into a relatively small area .

We continue to Didim, where the ruins of the imposing Greek Temple of Apollo is very impressive ! It too was one on the wonders of the ancient world but never got finished …some columns not fluted , some not put up ! We marvel at the 120 giant columns that frame the gateway to the temple . These columns must be the widest we have seen !
The surroundings offer a toppled column like a chocolate Rolo in pieces!
A Head of Medusa ! Scary !
And some bull’s faces !

We drive briefly by Euromos, and the preserved columns of the Temple of Zeus hidden in the thick olive grove.

Stratonikeia in Kapakaria is an odd stop ! Is it a Gladiator school ? Doesn’t seem so and it’s got an odd history going back to Hittites and the renovations .. relatively recent , are dramatically obvious or just odd - pediment on top of odd column ! Weird ! It does have a latrine , good set of baths , a bouleuterion, and theatre under serious reconstruction!

It’s been a good day again …and the rain is approaching !!

Milas is where we stay for the night.Read more