Miletos is located in western Türkiye, within the boundaries of Balat village in the Didim district of Aydın province. In antiquity, Miletos was a major port city opening to the Aegean Sea; however, over time, it became distanced from the coast due to the accumulation of alluvial deposits carried by the Büyük Menderes (Meander) River.

^{Miletos Ancient City - Didim Belediyesi}

History

The history of Miletos has been shaped by various legends and archaeological findings. According to the ancient writer Pausanias, the earliest settlement of Miletos was known as Anaktoria, ruled by a local leader named Anax. Later, Miletos, a Cretan, along with other Cretans, settled in the region and changed both the name of the area and the city. Miletos and his followers, fleeing the oppression of King Minos of Crete, settled in these lands and merged with the local Carian population. Another account suggests that Neleus, one of the sons of King Codrus of Athens, lost his claim to the throne and arrived on the western Anatolian coast, where he founded Miletos.

During the Archaic Period, Miletos developed as a significant port city. However, it was largely destroyed in 494 BCE during the Persian invasion. After this devastation, the city was rebuilt in the Hellenistic Period, shaping itself around the Lion Harbor and the theater. In the Roman Period, the scale and structural layout of the Hellenistic city were preserved, while significant public building projects were undertaken. Important structures from this period include the Faustina Baths, Humei Tepe Baths, theater, harbor monument, harbor gate, Capito Baths, gymnasium, South Agora Gate, West Agora, stadium, and storage facilities.

Over time, Miletos lost its status as a port city due to the alluvial deposits carried by the Büyük Menderes (Meander) River. This transformation negatively impacted the city's economic and commercial activities. By 537 CE, Miletos had become a bishopric center, and the city had contracted, concentrating around the theater and fortress. During the Byzantine Period, the city became known as "Palatia", and by the 13th century, it came under Turkish rule. During the Beyliks and Ottoman periods, Miletos was referred to as "Balat", remaining under Ottoman control.

Miletos continued to be an important settlement during the Early Christian Period, but over time, the city further diminished, losing its strategic significance. Today, remnants from the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Turkish periods can still be seen in Miletos. Among these are the Miletos Theater, Faustina Baths, agora, processional street, monumental fountain, gymnasium, Virgilius Capito Baths, Turkish bath, Temple of Athena, stadium, Delphinion, harbor monument, agora, Zeus Olympios Temenos, bouleuterion (Senate Building), and the Sanctuary of the Egyptian Gods.

Miletos became a major commercial and cultural power during the 7th and 6th centuries BCE, establishing colonies across the Mediterranean and Black Sea. However, in 546 BCE, it fell under Persian control, gradually losing its dominance in the region. It remained an independent city during the Roman Period, but during the Ottoman Period, it transformed into a rural settlement. Following the great earthquake of 1955, it was completely abandoned. Today, the ruins of the ancient city remain a significant archaeological site, attracting visitors and researchers.

^{Miletos Ancient City - Didim Belediyesi}

The Capital of Philosophy, Science, and Art

Miletos was one of the cities where the foundations of Ancient Greek thought were laid. The Milesian School, a pioneering philosophical tradition, produced figures such as Anaximenes, who sought to explain existence; Anaximander, who formulated universal laws independent of the gods; and Hecataeus, who became known as the first person to draw a world map.

Thales, regarded as the father of philosophy, applied knowledge he acquired in Egypt to predict solar eclipses and laid the groundwork for atomic theory by proposing that matter could be broken down into fundamental components. Anaximander’s idea that life originated in water and Anaximenes’ claim that air is the fundamental element of existence illustrate how philosophical inquiries in this era served as precursors to scientific thought.

Architecture and Archaeological Remains

The major ruins visible in Miletus today include:

• Miletus Theater: Originally built during the Hellenistic Period with a seating capacity of 5,300, it was expanded in the Roman Period to accommodate 19,000 spectators.

• Faustina Baths: Constructed by Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius in honor of his wife, Faustina.

• Agora and Gymnasium: Served as the social and commercial centers of the city.

• Delphinion: An open-air temple dedicated to Apollo.

• Bouleuterion (Senate Building): Functioned as the political center of the city.

• İlyas Bey Mosque and Complex: One of the most significant structures from the Ottoman Period.

^{İlyas Bey Mosque - Kültür Portalı}

Miletus played a significant role in the commercial and cultural expansion of the Greek world in antiquity, establishing nearly 90 colonies across the Aegean and Black Sea regions.