Selçuk is a town in
İzmir Province in the
Aegean Region of
Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula ...
. It is located northeast of the ancient city of
Ephesus
Ephesus (; grc-gre, Ἔφεσος, Éphesos; tr, Efes; may ultimately derive from hit, 𒀀𒉺𒊭, Apaša) was a city in ancient Greece on the coast of Ionia, southwest of present-day Selçuk in İzmir Province, Turkey. It was built i ...
, that was once home to the
Temple of Artemis, one of the
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, also known as the Seven Wonders of the World or simply the Seven Wonders, is a list of seven notable structures present during classical antiquity. The first known list of seven wonders dates back to the 2 ...
.
Its previous Greek name, Agios Theologos (Άγιος Θεολόγος), referred to
John the Theologian, because emperor Justinian had erected there a basilica in honour of the saint. ''Ayasoluk'' is a corrupted form of the original name.
In the 14th century, it was the capital of the
Beylik of Aydin
The Aydinids or Aydinid dynasty (Modern Turkish: ''Aydınoğulları'', ''Aydınoğulları Beyliği'', ota, آیدین اوغوللاری بیلیغی), also known as the Principality of Aydin and Beylik of Aydin (), was one of the Anatolian ...
, and visited by
Ibn Battuta
Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Battutah (, ; 24 February 13041368/1369),; fully: ; Arabic: commonly known as Ibn Battuta, was a Berber Maghrebi scholar and explorer who travelled extensively in the lands of Afro-Eurasia, largely in the Muslim ...
. He noted, "The congregational mosque in this city is one of the most magnificent mosques in the world and unequaled in beauty." Under the
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University ...
, it was known as Ayasoluk. In 1914, it was renamed Selçuk after the
Seljuk Turks who first led incursions into the region in the 12th century.
in
Kuşadası
Kuşadası () is a large resort town on Turkey's Aegean coast, and the center of the seaside district of the same name within Aydın Province. Kuşadası is south of İzmir, and about from Aydın. The municipality's primary industry is tour ...
district till 1957, when it became a district itself. Its neighbours are
Torbalı
Torbalı is a district of İzmir Province of Turkey.
An ancient Ionian city, Metropolis, is found in the district. It was famous for its wines and religious sites, and had three sanctuaries in marble dedicated to the Roman Emperor Augustus and hi ...
from north,
Tire
A tire (American English) or tyre (British English) is a ring-shaped component that surrounds a Rim (wheel), wheel's rim to transfer a vehicle's load from the axle through the wheel to the ground and to provide Traction (engineering), t ...
from northeast,
Germencik
Germencik is a town and a district of Aydın Province in the Aegean region of Turkey.
Geography
Germencik is located in the middle of the fertile Büyük Menderes (Meander) plain, inland from the Aegean coastal town of Kuşadası, on the Ayd ...
from east,
Kuşadası
Kuşadası () is a large resort town on Turkey's Aegean coast, and the center of the seaside district of the same name within Aydın Province. Kuşadası is south of İzmir, and about from Aydın. The municipality's primary industry is tour ...
from south, Aegean Sea from west and
Menderes (formerly Cumaovası) from northwest.
Selçuk is one of the most visited tourist destinations within
Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula ...
, known for its closeness to the ancient city of Ephesus,
House of the Virgin Mary, and Seljuk works of art. The 6th century
Basilica of St. John the Apostle, which, some claim, is built on the site of the Apostle's tomb, is also inside the town.
Procopius said that the basilica was a most sacred and honoured place in Ephesus. It was severely damaged in the invasion of Selçuk Turks in 1090. The place was excavated in 1927, and Pope Paul VI paid it a visit and prayed there.
In 1921, after the capture of the village by the
Greek forces, the village had a total population of 600, ethnographically consisting of 580
Greeks
The Greeks or Hellenes (; el, Έλληνες, ''Éllines'' ) are an ethnic group and nation indigenous to the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea regions, namely Greece, Cyprus, Albania, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, and, to a lesser extent, ot ...
, 10
Turks and 10
Armenians
Armenians ( hy, հայեր, ''hayer'' ) are an ethnic group native to the Armenian highlands of Western Asia. Armenians constitute the main population of Armenia and the ''de facto'' independent Artsakh. There is a wide-ranging diaspora ...
.
The old quarter of Selçuk retains much traditional Turkish culture.
Ayasuluk Hill dominates the surrounding area, with several historical buildings on its slopes, including the
İsa Bey Mosque
The İsa Bey Mosque ( tr, İsa Bey Camii), constructed in 1374–75, is one of the oldest and most impressive works of architectural art remaining from the Anatolian beyliks. The mosque is situated on the outskirts of the Ayasluğ Hills at Sel� ...
built by the Aydinids in 1375, and the Grand Fortress. The hill itself is part of Ephesus
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international coope ...
World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for ...
.
Ephesus Beach (Turkish: ''Pamucak'') is one of the longest beaches (12 km) in Turkey and hosts five large hotels.
Sport
The youth football teams of the İzmir-based sports club
Altınordu S.K. play their home matches in the
Altınordu Selçuk-Efes Football Complex, which is located WSW of Selçuk. With five football fields, the venue is the largest in
İzmir Province.
Notable people
*
Bülent Cevahir (1992–), footballer
*
Hafsa Hatun (before 1380 – after 1403), wife of
Sultan Bayezid I of the Ottoman Empire
International relations
Twin towns – sister cities
Selçuk is
twinned with:
*
Dion, Greece
*
Kobuleti, Georgia
*
Lienz
Lienz (; Southern Bavarian: ''Lianz'') is a medieval town in the Austrian state of Tyrol. It is the administrative centre of the Lienz district, which covers all of East Tyrol. The municipality also includes the cadastral subdivision of '' ...
, Austria
*
Ourém, Portugal
*
Radoviš
Radoviš ( mk, Радовиш ) is a city in the southeastern part of North Macedonia. It is the second largest city in the southeastern region. The city is the seat of Radoviš Municipality, which is spread on the bottom of Plačkovica Moun ...
, North Macedonia
*
Siegburg, Germany
See also
*
Temple of Artemis
*
Şirince
References
External links
*
Selçuk District, governmental site*
Şirince Travel GuideSelcuk places to visitPictures of SelçukŞirince Accommodation GuideSelçuk GuideŞirince Information Guide
Alert - Travel scam operating in Selçuk
{{DEFAULTSORT:Selcuk
İzmir
Towns in Turkey
Archaeological sites in the Aegean Region
Roman sites in Turkey
Populated places in İzmir Province
Selçuk District
Districts of İzmir Province
Former Greek towns in Turkey