Ruins of Aydın Museum

Alabanda
It is one of Karia cities, which is founded at Araphisar village that is 7 km far from Çine District of Aydın. According to Stephanos from Byzantion, king Kar gave this name to the city upon his son Alabadros's victory at horse race. We all learned from Strabon that the people of Alabanda were very rich, lived in luxury and all girls in the city played harp. The foundations of two temples were found during the digs carried out by Mr. Halil Ethem. One of the important works in the city is bouleuterion. Besides, the tombs seen at east are the indications that necropolis existed here. Water arch and theatre are the other buildings seen in the region.

Alinda
Alinda is one of the important Karia cities, which is founded at Karpuzlu village in Çine District of Aydın. When Ada, daughter of Hekatomnos had been driven away by her brother Pixadaros from Halikarnassos, she went to Alinda in B.C 340 and made this city capital. The most important structure still remains standing in Alinda is the agora. A theatre lies at the southern-west side of the acropolis. There are two tempest foundations at the acropolis. Karia type tombs between Karpuzlu houses are the indication of the fact that Alinda necropolis settled at southern side of the city.

Amyzon
Amyzon is one of the Karia cities, which is founded at Gaffarlar village in Koçarlı District of Aydın. For the history of the city, we only make use of the inscriptions. In 3rd century, Amyzon, who had first been the supporter of Ptolemaios and of Seleukos subsequently, made a bilateral agreement with Herakleia, which was located at lower sides of Latmos at the end of B.C 2nd century. III. Antiokhos stated with the message he sent to Amyzon in B.C 203 that he approved the privileges of the city. And the authority for protecting the people who took refuge to Apollon and Artemis tempest was among these privileges. The ramparts of the city still remain standing and it is built with isodynamic method used in B.C 300. Apollon and Artemis tempest, ramparts, underground rooms with arched vault and Byzantine building are the ones, which still remain standing.

Gerga
The city, which is founded at Deliktaş village in Çine District of Aydın, lies at 13 km northern-west side of Alabanda ancient city. There are some traces showing that the history of the city goes back to Archaic Period. The ruins in the city belong to Archaic Period and Rome Period. Gerga is an important place that reflects Karia culture. The city may be qualified as a place that protected its properties due to the fact that it is a city, which is built between the mountains. The rampart walls are typical Karia style.

It is stated in the resources that the name of Gerga can be a city and can also be the name of a God. The most important building is the one, which still remains standing and which has the properties of a temple. It was built of big stones and there is writing on triangle forehead of the building. It is estimated that the huge statue which was fallen to the lower side of the building belonged to Kybele. It is learned from the resources and the people living in the region that this statue remained standing 20 - 30 years ago.

Harpasa
It is located within the borders of Esenköy village of Nazilli. It lies on Asar hill where the village leant against. The Archaic period ramparts of the city which are at the northern side still remain standing. The theatre shows the properties of Hellenistic Period. The city was founded on terraces. It is understood from the findings that the people lived in the city during Rome, Byzantine, Beylikler and Ottoman Times. The city had been the civilian and military administrative centre as Arpas Beylik at Ottoman Times. The tumuluses on the hills lying towards north were made with the effect of Lydia.

Magnesia
Magnesia ad Meandrum is located on Ortaklar - Söke Highway, within the borders of Tekin village in Ortaklar quarter of Germencik District of Aydın. According to ancient resources and the myths, the city was established by a tribe which came from Thessalia and named Magnets. Nobody knows the exact location of first Magnesia, which is founded by Magnets who landed today's Bafa Lake that was a small bay under the leadership of Leukippos and divination of Apollon; but it was estimated that it was located at the edge of Menderes River.

Magnets re-built the city near Gümüşçay in B.C 400 because of the epidemics which arouse out of overflow of Menderes and because they had to defend themselves by building a more secure city against Persians. Magnesia, which was dominated by Seleukos first and Bergama Kingdom subsequently in Hellenistic Period, maintained its importance in Rome Period and had been the episcopal centre during Byzantine Period. Magnesia was a city surrounded by ramparts that covered a 1,5 km diameter area, having a grating planned street and road system and had been a commercially and strategically important location among triangle of Priene, Ephesos and Tralleis. Magnesia Ancient City had not been subject to much destruction. The overflow of the river and the silt layer brought by rainwater from Gümüş Mountain had a great effect for this situation. The first digs in Magnesia had been carried out by Carl Humann on behalf of Berlin Museum in 1891. Theatre, Artemis tempest and altar, agora, Zeus tempest and prytaneion were found partially or completely during these digs which lasted for 21 months.

The works found in Magnesia are being exhibited in Paris, Berlin and İstanbul museums. The digs were completed in 1893, and 100 years later, the digging activities re-started in Magnesia, which was about to disappear, in 1984 on behalf of the Ministry of Culture and Ankara University. The fame of Magnesia results from Hermogenes, the architect of ancient times. According to the Architect Vitruvius, an author of ancient times, Hermogenes is the first architect who applied the octagonal pseudodipteros tempest plan. Vitruvius states that the main work of Hermogenes is the Artemis Leukophryene tempest in Magnesia. The tempest of Hermogenes was built in Hellenistic Period (B.C 3/2 century), on the ruins of Artemis tempest belonging to Archaic Period (B.C 6th century). The tempest is the 4th biggest tempest of Anatolia in Ion style with 8 x 15 columns and with 67,50 x 40 meters dimension. There was an altar in front of the tempest, which pioneered the Bergama Zeus altar with its "U" formed plan. The altar was ornamented with embossments and statues of which heights were two-man lengths. Another important structure in Magnesia is the theatre, which lies under the ground today. Magnesia theatre (end of B.C 2nd century) is one of the unique works that complies with the general theatre plan given by Vitruvius. Agora and Zeus tempests, which were supposed to be built by Hermogenes, are the other works that are re-covered with soil after the digs carried out 100 years ago. The front side of Zeus tempest located in the agora, which is considered one of the biggest shopping areas of the period with its 26,000 m2 area, is being exhibited in Berlin Bergama Museum. The other buildings seen in Magnesia today belong to Rome Empire Period. The other works known in Magnesia are as follows: Gymnasion which is a training centre especially on sports, the bath which is small copy of Faustina Bath in Milet, Odeion between the theatre and Artemision, stadion of 25,000 people capacity, an unfinished building with theatre plan, shopping area basilica, a Byzantine building of which characteristics is not known yet and Byzantine rampart also surrounding Artemision. 15th century Transversal planned Çerkez Musa Mosque is the only Islamic building of the ruin. Tour around, see and introduce this ruin which is one of our ancient cities such as Ephesos, Milletos, Aphrodisias and Hierapolis which are studied on by foreign teams.

Mastaura
We have not got much information about Mastaura, which is located near Nysa Ancient City at the shore of Menderes River. The city was on the route of commercial places and had the privilege of minting money. Strabon mentioned about Mastaura as well as Orthosia. It was the episcopal centre during Christianity Period and it participated to Ephesos and Khalkedon councils. Some monuments and coins were found in the region that is called "Mastavra Castle" among public.

Myus
It is located near Avşar village, 15 km east of Milletos, at the shore of Bafa Lake. Strabon stated that Myus was founded by Kydrelos, son of Kodros, the king of Athena. According to Strabon, it is one of the cities included in Panionion Union. Herodotos stated that Persian fleet anchored to Myus off-shores in B.C 499. However, Herodotos declared that Myus participated the Lade Sea War in B.C 494 with only three ships. Dionysos tempest of which name is being mentioned in ancient resources and which is made of white marble has been found during the digs. Today, we see in the city, some parts of Dionysos tempest, rampart walls of Archaic Period and the ruins of Byzantine castle.

Nysa
Nysa is one of Karia cities within the borders of Sultanhisar District of Aydın. We obtain the most important information about the city from Strabon who lived in Nysa in most of his life. Strabon told that the city consisted of two parts. At the western side of the flood bed dividing the city into two, lies the gymnasion. At the northern side lie the Byzantine ruins and the library. At north of the library, there is a theatre that carries an importance with its embossments in the stage building. Odeon and bouleuterion are at the eastern side of the flood bed. The necropolis of the city lies on the way of Akharaka, which is a small village at west.

Orthosia
It is located within the borders of Donduran Village in Yenipazar District of Aydın. Strabon, one of the authors of Ancient Period, mentioned about Orthosia as a Karia city. The city which was attacked by Kimmers in B.C 7th century, passed under the sovereignty of Lydia after the victory of Alyattes, the king of Lydia, against Kimmers; it participated to Ionia Union in B.C 6th century and then passed under the sovereignty of Persians as the other Anatolia cities. The theatre and Byzantine buildings still remain standing. Well-protected tombs and graves on the necropolis show qualified workmanship.

Piginda
Acoording to Stephanos from Byzantion, it is small Karia city which is located 7 km north of Çamlıdere Village in Bozdoğan District of Aydın. Our information about the city is very limited as no research has been carried out. In the city consisting of three acropolises, today, we see the ramparts belonging to the Hellenistic Period. The theatre and the holy building which we may call probably Heraion are the important structures. As we learned from the inscription found in square planned building, there were Zeus Pigindenos cult and Zeus Tempest of this cult in the city. The exact location of this tempest could not be found yet. However, it is estimated to be in Piginda.

Pygela
According to the myths, Pygela, which is located at northern side of Kuşadası District of Aydın, was established by the soldiers of Agamemnon. Some of Agamemnon's soldiers were left here because of a disease and they created the first people of the city. According to Strabon, there was Artemis Munykhia tempest in Pygela. Pygela. J. M. Cook determined with his researches in Pygela that the settlement went back to Protogeometric Era. Pygela is being shown among the centres having Miken ceramic. There are not many places for tourists to visit except the ramparts of Hellenistic Period.

Tralleis
It was founded within the borders of today's Aydın. According to the myths, it was established by Argostians and barbarian Tralleissians. However, it should have been a city before used by Karians. After it was occupied by Alexander in B.C 334, dominants of the city had frequently changed among the Hellenistic Kingdoms. It progressed in sculpture in Bergama kingdom period and the two famous sculptors Apollonio and Tauriskos had grown here. The only building that still remains standing in the city, of which richness is told by Strabon, is the ruin of gymnasion built in A.D 2nd century and called Üçgözler by Aydın people. Necropolis lies in modern Aydın, at northern side of the city. It is being understood from the inscriptions found in the digs and from the articles of ancient period authors that Zeus Larasios tempest and Zeus Larasios cult existed in Hellenistic Period. However, its exact location is not known yet. Besides, agora, theatre and stadion are the other structures of the city.

Akhoraka
It lies at western side of Nysa Ancient City and Sultanhisar District of Aydın. The name of the city could not be found in ancient resources as it is a small place. There is no ruin in the region, which still remains standing.

Panionion
It lies near Güzelçamlı village in Kuşadası District of Aydın. It is known as the gathering place of unions of twelve Ion cities. We can see the ruins of rampart walls and the council building today.

Neapolis
According to Strabon, the city is located in Yılancıburnu Village of Kuşadası of Aydın and Samosians took Neopolis from Ephesossian against Marathesion City, as Neapolis was geographically closer to them. There are many cities which are called with this name in Archaic Period. Heradotos mentions about two cities called with this name in Egypt and Northern Greece. There is no ruin in the region, which still remains standing.

Euhippe
It is a city which is located in Dalaman District of Aydın. It lies at southern shores of Big Menderes River. An inscription was found here and we can see the names of the city in ths inscription. Money was minted in Euhippe in Hellenistic and Rome Period.

Antiokheia
It is at 500 m east of Çiftlik Village in Kuyucak District of Aydın. Antiokheia is an ancient city established at the foot of Çul Mountain and at the shore of Dandalos Stream in Asartepe. Two sites named Symmaitos and Kranos were united by Antiokhos Soter, the king of Seleukid, (B.C 281-261) and the city took the name of the king. We get information about the city from Strabon. Strabon mentions about Men tempest in Antiokheian's country. Strabon also states that the famous philosopher Diotrephes lived in Antiokheia, as a very delicious fig was grown in this city in Archaic Period.

NAZİLLİ PRINTED COTTON FACTORY
Nazilli printed cotton factory was established on a 65.000 m2 area on Nazilli Bozdoğan highway. It is the "first Turkish printed cotton factory" of which foundation was laid on August 25th, 1935 and which was opened by Atatürk with a big ceremony.

Atatürk watched the opening ceremony and parade organised for Nazilli printed cotton factory, which was a biggest work of the Republic, from the balcony of Factory's Management Building. After the opening ceremony of the factory, a meeting was held with participation of Atatürk and factory authorities in a room which is today's "Atatürk Museum". The meeting table, coaches, telephone and the glass negatives concerning the meeting are all being protected in this room for the memory of this meeting.

The following is written on the inscription which was put at the right side of the entrance door of the factory management building:

"Atatürk opened the first Turkish printed cotton factory which was established by Sümerbank, according to the first industrialisation plan. 1937."

Nazilli Printed Cotton Factory is taken into privatisation scope and the activities for transferring the entrance, management building and multi-aim dining room of the factory to the Ministry of Culture still continue.

APHRODISIAS MUSEUM
Aphrodisias Museum is a local museum in which the works found in digs of Aphrodisias Ancient City are exhibited. Prehistoric works covering the early, middle and late times of Chalcolitic Era, Bronze Period found in digs in Acropolis hill and Pekmeztepe tumulu; Lydia ceramics found in these tumuluses and Aphrodite tempest, Archaic, Classic and Hellenistic Period works found in this ruin are all exhibited in Small Works Hall.

The most important part of the museum collection consists of various types of tombs and many statues and embossments of Aphrodisias sculpture school which was opened in Late Hellenistic Perion in B.C 1st century and survived until Early Byzantine Period in A.D 4th century.

We can show the following as samples of these plastic works: Zoilos frieze, Melpomene statue, various emperor statues, the copy of Polykleitos's statue named Doriforos, Akhilleus - Penthesileia group, Baby Dionysos and Satyr statues, various Nike statues, cult statue of Aphrosisias Aphrodite, statues of three priests and a nun and Demos statue.

Studies have begun to exhibit high embossment groups figuring out Amozonamaka, Gigantomaka and Kentaur - Lapit struggle and high embossment panels of Sebasteion structure group.

As of the end of 1997, there are 12.697 registered works in our museum consisting 6000 coins, 6377 archaeological works, 44 seals and seal prints, 276 ethnographic works.