Miletus, anciently known as Milet, is nestled between Didim and Söke, close to Didim’s Balat Village. This historic city is celebrated for birthing prominent philosophers such as Thales, a pioneer in philosophy and the natural sciences. Thales made significant contributions to astronomy, mathematics, and geometry, including accurately predicting the 585 BC solar eclipse and formulating a theorem still in use. Anaximander, another eminent Miletus philosopher, explored the cosmos’s origins, while his student, Anaximenes, advanced early concepts of evolution. These thinkers established the Milesian School, influencing future philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.
For millennia, Miletus was a beacon of science and culture, with the 6th-century architect Isidoros, the mastermind behind Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia, originating from here. Its flourishing maritime trade elevated Miletus to a vital commercial hub. Today, well-preserved ancient structures such as the Grand Theatre, capable of hosting nineteen thousand spectators, the Temple of Athena, and the Faustina Bath, one of antiquity’s largest bathhouses, testify to its past glory. The city’s agora, ports, and temples remain intriguing sites.
Miletus’s strategic significance endured through centuries, eventually falling under Seljuk rule. Following the Seljuk Empire’s decline, it became the capital of the Menteseogullari Principality, later integrating into the Ottoman Empire. From the Turkish domination period, the Ilyas Bey Mosque, constructed in 1404, stands out as a significant landmark.
