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Our Project
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DIDIM (DIDYMA)
Located 70 km (40miles) south of Kusadasi, Didim is a summer resort
famous with it's long beaches and near by historical sites such as
Miletos, Priene and the Temple of Apollon . Altinkum (Meaning Golden
Sand in Turkish) near Didim which was once a tiny fishing village
has turned into a small touristic town hotels, restaurants, cafes
and bars. Altinkum is the most famous bay and beach of Didim. Didim
has a coastal length of 50 km (30 miles).
THE HISTORY OF DIDYMA
On the southwest Aegean coast of Anatolia, Didyma the sacred
place of ancient Anatolia, is only 4 km away from the seaand 15 kms.
to the south of Akkoy, a small village of city of Aydin. Didyma was
a sacred place starting from the 8th century B.C. There are two
important temples; Apollon and Artemis temples.
The Apollon temple was the more prominent one of these two. Before
Hellenistic age in Anatolia, the temple of Apollon was a small
archaic temple, far earlier than the foundation of the remarkable
sanctuary of worship devoted to god Apollon.
During archaic and Hellenistic periods, the temple of Apollon became
a prime sacred site for Anatolians. The whole structure was
destroyed by Persions in 494 B.C. and the cult of Apollon was taken
to Persia.
Didyma was reconstructed and the cult statue was brought back from
Ekbatana under the leadership of Diadochen Seleukos I. He began to
build a new temple in place of the old one in 300 B.C. The whole
structure was completed in more than 300 years. During the Byzantine
age, the temple was used as a fortress and later as a church. An
earthquake, in the 15th century, damaged the temple and the
surrounding structures. Since then it is left as a ruin
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ALTINKUM
Set on a sandy bay, Altinkum is a purpose-built resort with a relaxed and
informal atmosphere. This is a place for people who love the beach, and
there are no fewer than four within easy reach. The Main Beach in front of
the resort is a long wide stretch of golden sand, where you can bask in the
sun, potter in a pedalo or try out a range of water sports. A mile away,
beyond the harbour, the Third Beach offers a quieter environment and its
waters are clear and sparkling.
When you finally tear yourself away from the sea, Altinkum’s shops offer an
interesting range of value-for-money goods and souvenirs. Well worth looking
out for are leather bags and jackets, designer clothes, Turkish carpets,
onyx vases, ornaments and keyrings and gold jewellery in unusual designs.
Not forgetting the weekly market in neighbouring Yenihisar, which sells
everything from spices to clothes and gives you the opportunity to haggle
and have some fun.
You can’t come to Altinkum without visiting some of the nearby ancient sites.
Only 4km away is the Temple of Apollo at Didyma. Three columns still stand
to their full height measuring 19.70 metres and 2.40 metres in width. A mass
of marble stumps gives an idea of the colossal size of the original
structure. Other sites worth visiting include the classical Greek city of
Prienne and the ancient port of Miletus, now landlocked by the silting up of
the River Maeander. Ask your JMC representative for details of trips
available.
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