DateBefore the Ionian migrations, the city was inhabited by the Carians, and the pottery found by the archaeologist Theodore Vigand at the site proves that it was inhabited with ties to the Aegean cities, in the late Minoan period. It is said that the Greek settlers from Pylos came under the command of Neleus and killed all the people of the ancient city, and built themselves a new city on the coast.
Miletus occupied a convenient position at the entrance to the fertile Mayander Valley, and was a natural outlet for trade with southern Phrygia. It had four ports, one of which was of great size, and its influence extended inland in the valley of Mayander, and along the coast to the south, where they founded the city of Iasos. Its commercial activity extended to Egypt, where they had a role in establishing the settlement of Naukratis. Only a few Naukratis pottery has been found by Vigand on the site and only in the Temple of Athena. But the Black Sea trade was the most important source of the wealth of the Ionian cities. Miletus, like the rest, turned its attention mainly to the north, and almost succeeded in monopolizing trade. More than sixty cities were founded along the coasts of the Hellespont, Propontes and the Black Sea - among them Abydos, Kizikos Sinop, Sinop-Skhumi, Dioscarias, Panticabaum and Olbia. All these cities were founded before the middle of the seventh century; and before 500 BC.Miletus was certainly the greatest of the Greek cities. During this time the sea trade made Miletus reach a status unparalleled in it, though, in comparison with the Greek cities, and some references from later writers, it appears that there were political struggles that occurred between oligarchs and democracy, and tyrants sometimes raised themselves to supreme power. . Miletus was also distinguished as a center of literature. Although the homeland of the epic and lyrical Ionian poetry is further north; Philosophy and history were more closely related to the people of Miletus, and among the sons of this city were Thales Anaximander and Anaximander and Anaximenes of Miletus Anaximenes and Hecateus. Poets such as Timothy and Aspasia were also citizens of the city. The three Ionian cities of Caria - Miletus, Mios and Priene - spoke a peculiar Ionian dialect.
The kings of Lydia found in Miletus their strongest opponent. The war lasted for several years, until Aliatus III made peace with Thrasybulus tyrant Miletus; It appears that the Militians subsequently peacefully recognized Croesus' rule. Upon the Persian invasion, the city came under the rule of a new master; She led the Ionian revolt in 500 BC, and was attacked after the Battle of Ladi. Darius killed most of the population, moved the rest to Ambe at the mouth of the Tigris, and ceded the city to the Carians. This catastrophe was remembered by the Greeks for a long time and became the subject of a tragedy written by Phrynichus.
Since that date Miletus has had no significant role in the region. The city revived again when the Persians were expelled from the coast in 479 BC, came into the Delian League, rebelled against Sparta in 412, came under the hands of the Carians, opposed Alexander in his advance south, and surrendered at a siege (334 BC). It was of commercial importance in the Greco-Roman period, and received special attention from Trajan. Its harbors were protected by Lade Island and the other Tragasian islands, gradually filled with silt from the Mayander River, and Ladi Island now lies several kilometers off the coast. Ephesus took its place as the largest Ionian port in Hellenistic and Roman times. Miletus became the center of a Christian episcopate and was strengthened by a Byzantine citadel built above the theater; But its decline was inevitable, and its position now has become a quagmire.
excavationsSince 1899 Miletus has been the scene of extensive excavations conducted by Dr. Theodor Wiegand for the Berlin Academy. The ruins are located around the base of a mound that appears on the northeastern region towards the bend of Mayander. To the north is a well-preserved theater from Roman times, built on the site of an older Greek building. When completed, it had 54 rows of seats. It was as large as any theater in Asia Minor, and still retains the auditorium, though its upper pillars and rows, nearly 100 feet (30 metres) high, have been destroyed.
City descriptionChiriaco de Pitsicoli Quiriac of Anconi describes the building as practically complete in his days (1446). The length of the facade is more than 135 meters. To the east was the old northern port, now covered in silt, and on the hillside above it stood a great mausoleum of Hellenistic times, set within the walls, like the tomb of Brasidas at Amphipolis. South of the port lies the Agora (Public Square) with ruins of large warehouses carved in the Doric style. To the south again lies the nymphium from the time of Titus, and the Senate in theatre. To the east lies a great hall surrounded by porticos and accompanied by the main altar of Artemis, which was decorated with reliefs. The Roman arena is located behind the altar. A straight street leads southwest from the North Harbor to the Gate of Didyma, which is at the neck of the peninsula and was rebuilt by Trajan, when he pledged to raise the level of the outer quarters of the city; The streets cut it at right angles and in a Hellenistic geometric style. There is a sacred path that runs parallel to the tombs and leads to Didimi. A temple was discovered by Dr. Wigand, one of them on the southeast is a large sanctuary of the Delphic Apollo with a triangular row enclosing a slab with a central stand. It appears that this was the main temple of the city and the place where public records, treaties, and other inscriptions were placed. The other temple is an ancient sanctuary of Athena located west of the stadium.
The kings of Lydia found in Miletus their strongest opponent. The war lasted for several years, until Aliatus III made peace with Thrasybulus tyrant Miletus; It appears that the Militians subsequently peacefully recognized Croesus' rule. Upon the Persian invasion, the city came under the rule of a new master; She led the Ionian revolt in 500 BC, and was attacked after the Battle of Ladi. Darius killed most of the population, moved the rest to Ambe at the mouth of the Tigris, and ceded the city to the Carians. This catastrophe was remembered by the Greeks for a long time and became the subject of a tragedy written by Phrynichus.
Since that date Miletus has had no significant role in the region. The city revived again when the Persians were expelled from the coast in 479 BC, came into the Delian League, rebelled against Sparta in 412, came under the hands of the Carians, opposed Alexander in his advance south, and surrendered at a siege (334 BC). It was of commercial importance in the Greco-Roman period, and received special attention from Trajan. Its harbors were protected by Lade Island and the other Tragasian islands, gradually filled with silt from the Mayander River, and Ladi Island now lies several kilometers off the coast. Ephesus took its place as the largest Ionian port in Hellenistic and Roman times. Miletus became the center of a Christian episcopate and was strengthened by a Byzantine citadel built above the theater; But its decline was inevitable, and its position now has become a quagmire.
excavations
Since 1899 Miletus has been the scene of extensive excavations conducted by Dr. Theodor Wiegand for the Berlin Academy. The ruins are located around the base of a mound that appears on the northeastern region towards the bend of Mayander. To the north is a well-preserved theater from Roman times, built on the site of an older Greek building. When completed, it had 54 rows of seats. It was as large as any theater in Asia Minor, and still retains the auditorium, though its upper pillars and rows, nearly 100 feet (30 metres) high, have been destroyed.
City description
Chiriaco de Pitsicoli Quiriac of Anconi describes the building as practically complete in his days (1446). The length of the facade is more than 135 meters. To the east was the old northern port, now covered in silt, and on the hillside above it stood a great mausoleum of Hellenistic times, set within the walls, like the tomb of Brasidas at Amphipolis. South of the port lies the Agora (Public Square) with ruins of large warehouses carved in the Doric style. To the south again lies the nymphium from the time of Titus, and the Senate in theatre. To the east lies a great hall surrounded by porticos and accompanied by the main altar of Artemis, which was decorated with reliefs. The Roman arena is located behind the altar. A straight street leads southwest from the North Harbor to the Gate of Didyma, which is at the neck of the peninsula and was rebuilt by Trajan, when he pledged to raise the level of the outer quarters of the city; The streets cut it at right angles and in a Hellenistic geometric style. There is a sacred path that runs parallel to the tombs and leads to Didimi. A temple was discovered by Dr. Wigand, one of them on the southeast is a large sanctuary of the Delphic Apollo with a triangular row enclosing a slab with a central stand. It appears that this was the main temple of the city and the place where public records, treaties, and other inscriptions were placed. The other temple is an ancient sanctuary of Athena located west of the stadium.
