Selcuk town is a small town in İzmir Province that grew on and around Ayasuluk Hill, right beside Ephesus Ancient City. This is where you find the Basilica of St. John, the İsa Bey Mosque, the Ephesus Museum and the one standing column of the Temple of Artemis.
Selcuk, which has a history of 8 thousand years, is one of the most important centers of the world in terms of archeology, history, religion, and culture. Selçuk is one of the leading tourism centers of our country with its cultural and historical values. The first settlements in Izmir, which has a distinguished place in the world with its cultural assets, especially the Ephesus Ancient City, go back 8 thousand years.
Ephesus, which is visited today, was founded by Lysimakhos, one of the generals of Alexander the Great, in 300 BC. Ephesus was relocated again in the Byzantine Age and came to Ayasuluk Hill, where it was first founded.
Where Is Selcuk Town?
Ephesus which is known as Selçuk today is a city located in the western part of Anatolia (Turkey), in the old Ionian region as it was once called. Today, it is established in the Küçük Menderes valley in the west of Selçuk district, located in the southeast part of İzmir city which is the third-biggest city of Turkey and which is located on the Aegean coast in Western Turkey.
Thanks to its strategic location, Ephesus once was a gate that opens the West and the East to each other and the melting point of two opposing cultures. Ephesus or today’s Selçuk is located approximately 82 km from Izmir, and it is about a one-hour drive away. The history of the ancient city of Ephesus dates back to 6000 BC. Ephesus was an important port city, but Ephesus moved away from the sea later on and far from the sea today.
History of Selcuk Town
Selcuk was taken by the Turks in 1307. Selçuk, which came under the control of the Ottoman Empire in 1426, was made a precinct of Izmir in 1957. Today, Selçuk has a population of more than fifty thousand.
Let’s have a look at the name of the town. Before 1914 it was called Ayasuluk, which comes from the Greek Agios Theologos, the Holy Theologian, meaning Saint John. When the harbor of Ephesus was lost to the silt, people moved up to this hill around tomb of the apostle. The Byzantines built a fortress there to protect his basilica.
Under the Aydinid Turks in the 14th century Ayasuluk became an important harbor town and one of their main cities. The İsa Bey Mosque was built in this time, in 1375.
The town got its present name Selçuk in 1914, after the Seljuk Turks who first came into this region in the 11th century.
Climate and Area of Selçuk District
The climate in this region is Mediterranean. The summers are hot and dry, and the winters are warm and rainy. Selçuk district is spread over an area of 295 km². The distance from the sea to the sea is 8 km, and the height from the sea is 16 meters. Since a large part of the region is forested, this situation adds a natural beauty to the City of Ephesus. Ephesus Antique City is located 3 km from Selçuk district.
Things to Do in Selcuk Town
The main things to do in Selçuk town are the Basilica of Saint John and the fortress on Ayasuluk Hill, the İsa Bey Mosque, the Ephesus Museum, the Temple of Artemis site and the Saturday market. Most of them are within walking distance of each other.
Start on Ayasuluk Hill. The Basilica of Saint John stands on its slope, where the apostle is believed to be buried, and the emperor Justinian built the big church there in the 6th century. Above it the Ayasuluk Fortress is open to visitors, and from the walls you see the whole town and the plain.
Down the slope is the İsa Bey Mosque. It was built in 1375 for Isa Bey of the Aydinids by a Syrian architect, and many of its stones came from Ephesus. Visitors can go in, and at the door they give free covers if you need one.
The Ephesus Archaeological Museum is in the center of Selçuk, it is worth the time. It opened in 1964 and it keeps the finds of Ephesus, among them the famous statues of Artemis and the frescoes of the Terrace Houses.
On the road toward Ephesus you reach to the site of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. One column stands today, put together from old pieces, and storks often nest on top of it. It is small, but it is a good place to imagine the huge temple.
If you are in Selçuk on a Saturday, do not miss the weekly market. It starts near the bus station, and the stalls sell fresh fruit and vegetables, clothes and things for the house. It is a very local place, and a nice break after the stones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Selcuk worth visiting?
Yes. Selçuk has the Basilica of Saint John, the İsa Bey Mosque, the Ephesus Museum and the Temple of Artemis site in one small town, and Ephesus Ancient City is only a short ride away. One day is enough to see the main places.
How do you get to Selcuk?
From İzmir it is about one hour by car. Trains and buses also go to Selçuk, and the bus station is right in the center, near the Ephesus Museum. My post on how to get to Ephesus has the details.
Is Selcuk the same as Ephesus?
Selçuk and Ephesus are neighbors with one shared history, and some people call Selçuk modern day Ephesus. Ephesus is the ancient city with the Library of Celsus and the Great Theater, and Selçuk is the living town next to it.
4 comments