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| Didim | ||
| province | Aydın | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 50.000 | |
other value for residents on Wikidata: 85055   | ||
| height | unknown | |
| no value for height on Wikidata: | ||
| no tourist info on Wikidata: | ||
| location | ||
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Didim is a city in the region Ege in the Turkey. In addition to the growing seaside tourism, the city is best known for the ancient site Didyma.
background
According to Herodotus, a Carian cult site should have stood here as early as the 2nd millennium BC. However, this has not yet been proven archaeologically. According to legend, Zeus' lover received her son Apollo here from the same. A shepherd named Branchos is said to have been around 1000 BC. BC have had a vision here in which Apollo appeared to him. From him the succession of the Branchides was derived, who initially provided the high priests. In the course of the immigration of the Ionians, one of the most important religious centers of antiquity was founded here. The oracle, which, in addition to the in Delphi was certainly the most important of its time. The Lydian king Kroisus was just as regular here as some Egyptian pharaohs. In the 5th century BC A complete new building of the temple began. There are two different explanations given in the historiography: In the first variant, the Persian king Dareios puts it in 494 BC. As a punitive action after the suppression of the Ionian rebellion, the old temple in ruins and in the second variant it is the Persian King Xerxes I who plundered and burned this religious center as punishment after the lost invasion of Greece. So far none of these variants could be confirmed. Only that is certain from the 5th century BC onwards. The temple was re-planned and built. The high priesthood also changed. The sex of the Brachiaden was established by representatives of the upper class in Miletus replaced. The site was already under the patronage of this city and was connected to Miletus via a processional route. The new building was hardly anything like it and only had its own marble quarry in the area of the current one Bafa Gölus was able to deliver so much marble to have a chance of completion. The financial side was right, because almost all Roman emperors took a liking to the oracle. With the arrival of Christianity, however, the importance of the place decreased. Didyma also became a bishopric, but that could not prevent its decline. Finally, in the 15th century, an earthquake led to the settlement being abandoned. The temple was still not finished, of course. A new settlement was built here in the 18th century. In 1955, after an earthquake, the new city of Didim was founded here. The place quickly transformed into a tourist center due to the local sandy beach.
getting there
By plane
The nearest airport is in Bodrum to find. From there it continues on the road.
By bus
The small town of Söke has good bus connections, for example Kuşadası. From Söke there is a regular dolmuş connection with the bathing beach of Altınkum. If you want to go to the temple, this connection also helps, as the dolmuş stops about 300 meters from the temple shortly beforehand if you wish.
In the street
Coming from the south, take the D525 from Milas in the direction Izmir or Söke. Just behind the Bafa Gölü there is a sign pointing to Didim and Didyma on the left. Follow these signs for about 20 km to your destination. Both Didyma and Altınkum are signposted. From the north, the same route is considered the fastest.
By boat
mobility
Tourist Attractions
- Didyma. Certainly the tourist attraction in Didim. Many of the tourists who visit Didyma will never know that this archaeological site is on the territory of the city of Didim, as they are part of one of the numerous round trips along the route Priene, Miletus and Didyma and after the sightseeing the return journey to your hotel in tourist strongholds such as Kuşadası compete. Various excavations have shown a theater, a stadium and other temples here, but most of these are built over, not excavated and / or inaccessible. Only the Temple of Artemis and the Temple of Apollo are actually accessible. The Artemis Temple is located north of Ataturk Boulevard and there are essentially a few foundations and foundation walls to be found here. But the site's most important monument, the Temple of Apollo, located south of Ataturk Boulevard, has survived the years in remarkable condition. And even if this is "only" a temple, there is so much to see here that some ancient cities do not. You can enter the chargeable area directly across Ataturk Boulevard for 5 TL (2012). Around the temple, many fragments and found objects can be seen sorted. The most beautiful can be seen immediately after entering the site. There are probably also the most photographed fragments of antiquity in Turkey. Two large fragments show so-called medusas. Allegedly anyone who looks into their eyes with malicious intent immediately petrifies. The actual temple is entered from the east via a flight of stairs. The temple is surrounded by a double row of pillars. A total of 116 columns, each almost 20 meters high, were only necessary for the enclosure alone. There are only three pillars left, but the stumps of the pillars are impressive on their own. The giant columns were completed by a surrounding frieze on which, in addition to ornaments, the well-known Medusa faces could be seen. The roof construction over it may never have begun, but in any case it could never be completed. In the vestibule, which had another 12 columns, all the questions and supplicants had to wait for their results, because from here you could not get further into the temple area. The inner temple area was only accessible via two tunnels on the left and right, which are still preserved. The inner courtyard is completely enclosed by high walls and was only accessible to high priests. To the west you can see the foundation of a small building that was built to protect a freshwater spring. A cultic connection was probably assigned to this source. What went on here for centuries and led to oracles is not known and is left to the imagination of the visitor.
- Altınkum. This district is the second highlight of the place. Translated, this means roughly golden sand and that's true, because here a fine golden sandy beach slowly sinks into the Mediterranean Sea. But unfortunately this is no longer an insider tip. And so, during the main season, thousands of bathers occupy this beach and spend the night in the concrete-bed bunkers directly behind it.
activities
- Discover
- Swimming
shop
kitchen
Most of the offers can be found in Altınkum. The orientation is often mainly dedicated to a Turkish / British clientele, but you can get full here too. There are also a few places to eat at the temple, which should be avoided due to exorbitant prices. A short drive of 2 kilometers to Altınkum will certainly help your wallet here.
nightlife
There are a few bars and discos on the Altınkum beach
accommodation
There are two options for staying overnight directly on the ancient temple grounds:
- Medusa House Hotel, Next Apollon Temple / Didim / Aydın / Turkey. Tel.: 90 (256) 8110063, Mobile: 90 (536) 7676734, Fax: 90 (256) 8111596, Email: [email protected].
- Oracle Pension, Next Apollon Temple / Didim / Aydın / Turkey. Tel.: 90 (256) 811 02 70. Feature: pension.- Oldest pension with 8 small rooms and a terrace with a great view
Further overnight stays can be found directly on Altınkum Beach. Here one large hotel bunker stands next to the other.
