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izmir

Izmir , known as the "Pearl of Aegean Sea", lies at the head of a long and narrow gulf. Izmir is the third largest city in Turkey and its port is second only to Istanbul. It lies at the centre of the most important land, air and sea communication network in the Aegean region. The city is a busy commercial and industrial centres as well the gateway to the Aegean Region
Izmir enjoys a perfect climate. It is mostly mild in winter and sunny in the summer. Especially for summers due to its hot climate and beautiful surrounding this lively city is one of the most attractive touristic places.

For many years Izmir has enjoyed a reputation for its cosmopolitan city culture. The Izmir Cultural Center hosts opera and ballet performances as well as musical concerts. International Izmir Festival, the most prominent entertainment event in Izmir begins in mid-June and continues to mid-July. World-class performers-soloists and virtuosos, orchestras, dance companies, rock and jazz groups give recitals and present performances in Izmir.The International Izmir Fair (August-September) attracts a great number of foreign and native visitors each year.

Izmir has been at the centre of the most historically significant locations situation due to the sacred places belonging to Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The existence of holy places in the vicinity of Izmir such as Mary's House proclaimed as a significant place of Pilgrimage, the Double Church dedicated to Virgin for the first time, the Basilica of St.John including the tomb of Christ's beloved friend, the Grotto of Seven Sleepers and the Seven Churches of Revelation built to serve the spread of Christianity have also been giving rise to a promoting centre from the in terms of Faith Tourism.

As well as being undeniably a world city with its natural beauties, historical and cultural values, Homer's love and poetry. City of Izmir, where various civilisations flourished and people have lived together in tolerance and brotherhood, acquired her name from an Amazon queen called Smyrna and was mentioned by famous historian Heredotos as" the city under the most sublime blue sky and on the remarkable climate".

By: tromokolo Date: 10/17/2006

ephesus

EPHESUS THEATRE

This theatre, which had a seating capacity of 25,000 was first constructed during the Hellenistic period, although the present structure dates from the 1-2nd centuries AD. The Roman Theatre was begun during the reign of Claudius (34-41 A.D.), and it took 60 years to build. The second and third storeys of the skene (25x40 m) were constructed during the reigns of the emperors Nero (54-68 A.D.) and Septimus Severus ( 193-211 AD.). Only parts of the skene now date from the Hellenistic period. The Theatre has three cavea, each 22 rows, to which access was obtained via flights of steps between the cavea. The skene is 18 m. in height and the inner façade was ornamented with reliefs, columns, blind niches, windows and decorated with statues on three levels. The semicircular orchestra, surrounded by a channel, fronted a second skene supported on columns, 2.70 metres in height, which was approached by flights of steps. This section of the skene was used during the Roman period.

CHURCH OF THE VIRGIN MARY

Situated next to the Harbour Corn Exchange, this is the first church to be dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It was also where the Third Ecumenical Council was held in 431 A.D., and so is considerably important to the development of Christian dogma.
The building in which it is housed, which is 260 m. in length and 30 m. in width, was used for scientific training, and for the theological training of the priests of Ephesus. The plan is that of a triple naved building, and in the 4th century the church was converted into a basilica with a central nave flanked by two aisles, when an apse was opened in the eastern I wall, and a Baptisterium added to the north side of an atrium to the west of the church. The central nave is the same width as the apse, while the flanking aisles are somewhat smaller. They are separated from the nave by two rows of columns, with geometric-designed balustrade panels between. There are mosaics on the floor of the narthex, to the western tip of the building, decorated with geometrical patterns, while the Atrium, which has one absidal wall is paved with stones of various kinds. The Baptisterium is circular in plan, and contains the baptismal pool in the centre. During the reign of the emperor Justinian (527 -565), further alterations led to the construction of a centrally-planned chapel surmounted by a single dome, between the apse and the narthex of the original church.
The cauldron in the centre was brought there from the Harbour Baths. In the 10th century a further church was added to the eastern front, with a small chapel being added to the southern tip of the church The council meeting held in this church in 431 agreed to accept as dogma the notion that Jesus, the son of the Virgin Mary was also the Son of God.

TEMPLE OF ARTEMIS

To the right of the road leading to Kusadasi can be seen the ruins of the Temple of Artemis (Diana), one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Artemis, the virgin goddess of nature, and protectress of women in childbirth is mentioned in the Iliad with the phrase: Praise be to Artemis! She, who would water her horses at the reed-filled Meles river, then pass speedily through Smyrna on her golden chariot towards the vineyards of Coloros."

The mention of Smyrna in this description would suggest that the goddess Artemis is of Anatolian origin. At another point in his Iliad, Homer gives the birthplace of Artemis as Ortygie. Ortygie" means quail in ancient Greek, and might also have been related to the Mount Nightingale (Bülbüldag) which was the site of the original city of Ephesus.

Furthermore, the Ephesians at one point had a resolution passed in the Roman senate stating that their place of origin was Ortygie, and Artemis their patron goddess. It is perhaps for this reason that the Ephesians erected such a magnificent temple to this goddess. Artemis is not, in fact, a word of Greek origin, but a derivative of "artems", meaning "untouched", or 'unspoiled' in an ancient local tongue.
In Ephesus, Artemis was considered as one and the same as Cybele, the goddess from whom the land

of Anatolia is said to have been born. She is depicted as a multi breasted figure with many facets, and bears the model of a temple on her head, in the form of a crown. This triple-storeyed crown indicates that she is the protector of cities, while the crescent on her forehead indicates that she is the moon goddess. The breasts, at the same time, link her to the fertility cult. Artemis also bore the symbol of the bee, the emblem of Ephesus, which indicates that she is a unique product of Anatolian mythology. The ruined Artemision contained a total of 127 columns, the 36 façade columns being decorated with reliefs. It was 115 metres long, 55 metres wide and 18 metres high.
The earliest traces of the Artemision building date to the 7th century B.C. The original temple was destroyed by the Cimmerians, and was re-built during the 6th century B.C Destroyed once more during the reign of the mad king Herostratos in the year 356 B.C, Ephesus began to rebuild its cult centre on an even grander scale after that date. Alexander passed through Ephesus at about that time and learning that the temple had been destroyed and burnt down on his birthday, he expressed the Desire to assist with its re-construction.
He wished, the new temple to be dedicated to him. But the Ephesians could not assent to this and undertook the reconstruction of the temple without his aid. The new temple of Artemis measured 105 metres by 55 metres, and was 25 metres in height, covering an area 6000 square metres in all. Alexander extended the temenos to include an inhabitated area around the temple as part of the sacred compound. This sacred area was preserved through the rule of several different kings and governors, was expanded and finally abolished by the emperor Augustus. In 263 AD., the temple was sacked and destroyed during the invasion of the Goths.

CELSUS LIBRARY
   One of the finest structures in Ephesus, the Celsus Library has recently been restored. Raised on a high plinth, the building is approached via a broad flight of steps.
   It was built by the Consul Gaius Julius Aquila in 135 AD. as a heroon in honour of his father, Celsus Polemaeanus, the governor of Asia Minor. The façade is highly ornamented on two levels, and there are three main portals. Over the portals were columns and statues arranged in niches. These statues were female figures representing the virtues wisdom, fate and intellegence. Niches on the interior of the building were designeo to hold books. The tomb of Celsus was placed in a crypt below the central large niche.
   According to the inscription on the architrave of the building, its patron, C.Aquila, died before it was completed, and the construction was carried on by his heirs. Aquila left 25 thousand dinar for the acquisition of books for the library.

By: tromokolo Date: 10/16/2006

we came from nature.

people are afraid of talking these days

I can't understand the people. When you talk with them everybody says

we help homeless people
We donate Unicef
We help Greenpeace.
We help children who needs!

If you really do these ; why are the people are in danger? Why are there a lot of people hungry when you cook meat at home. We come from nature. If you think that we are equal you will solve a lot of questions and the differentiatons in your brain and in your world.

We will die one day. What does this mean? Your life will finish. So do you need anything to make you feel bad orlost? NO! So try to make everyone's world like yours. If you have 2 breads at the moment, share it. Sharing is something that makes you feel good and warm.

I know this is a travel site and my blogs are not about them but I'm sorry. This is me. And I can't change it.

If you believe in peace

if you believe that every human in the world should live together in happiness

if you are NOT racist

if you are NOT fascist

if you are NOT sadist

if you don't want any children to live hungry for years

if you don't want to see people dying everyday

if you don't want to read murder news anymore

if your spirit wants to be free as a bird

you are WELCOME

By: tromokolo Date: 10/07/2006

life isn't all about pleasure

Sometimes I wish I can turn back time and undo my mistakes but then we learn by mistakes... Thats whats makes us stronger... You need to get burned to feel the pain...

I suffered from very bad depression when I was younger... I wanted to die... I tried to kill myself... I was into drugs at young age... young and stupid... Then I said to myself fu.k this i'm gona do it myself I am the only person who can make me strong... I am incharge of my life... I'm not the same now... I do feel sad now and then but everyone does... Life isnt all about pleasure... You need pain too

Anyway I dont get people... Sometimes I truly believe I dont belong here... I feel like an alien... but then you meet someone & say finally someone who thinks like me & you dont feel so alone or lost...

By: tromokolo Date: 09/14/2006

life is too short no need to rage

I'm 26 years old and I've travelled a lot of countries till this age. I've seen many cultures many people. First I have to say that I don't understand the politicians. in every country I visit the people says that they don't like war. They are right; war has nothing to like. But then you ask yourself that if noone likes wars then why there are a lot of people dying everyday?

The big trades rules the world. People die. Because of the stupid politicians. We don't need the politicians. We don't need guns. We don't need soldiers. We just need peace. We dream a world everone living together. But firs the BAD people has to go over. How*??? We will take them out of our lives! if something is bad we don't have to say that it's good. We vote and we choose. So why do we choose the wrong one? Cause we earn more? Fu.k money!!! Fu.k career. We don't need them. Happiness is something that money can never buy. Love children-love forrest-love animals-love people. respect thoughts.

This world is going mad, everyone tries to fu.k you but is this true?

These problems are making us sad. we're making our lives more difficult.

Don't wait the solution from others. try to find the problem and solve.

Don't hurt don't kill don't steal cause one day deep inside you'll feel.

I can't stand to see people dying everyday. !!!!!!!!!!!

By: tromokolo Date: 09/13/2006

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