geetika

Indeed OC, that’s quite a spread, and looks yummy too. Happy to see you in good health and cheer, best wishes…😊👍😊

ashwinb

Some exciting news: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart...key-180978776/ ,
"Entrance Gate to Greek Temple of Zeus Unearthed in Turkey. Archaeologists excavating the ancient city of Magnesia hope to fully restore the 2,300-year-old sacred structure"

zebec

ASH, thx for this exciting update! That is a major find.
I have forgotten: where exactly is Aydin province?
I am done. the dig

otherchelebi

Thanks for posting AshB,

Zebec, the antique city Magnesia is between Soke and Ortaklar on the route from Izmir to Bodrum, after you turn exit the Izmir-Aydin motorway.
Beware the radars if you are driving on that route.
Make sure you stop to eat Chop shish, tiny pieces of lamb on small wooden skewers griled and served with grilled green peppers.

Not that far from Selcuk (Ephesus) and PMD.

To Carine to Cnidos with a brief visit to magnesia, ending in Phrygia

zebec

Teshkur OC. Looks like a site with much potential, magnificent Magnesia.
yassasin
I am done. the MM

Croesus

I was pulled over at a check-point on my way to Magnesia three years ago. I was impressed by the cops' tech - they entered my driving licence into their tablet computer and commented that I'd been in Izmir a few days earlier (the previous check-point).

It was good to be able to ride right up to the stadium at Magnesia. They'll have to do a lot of digging to excavate the theatre there.



I wonder what the top two largest temples in Anatolia are. I'm guessing the Temple of Apollo at Didyma is one of them.

Croesus

The Temple of Artemis at Sardis seems to be up there, judging by this list on Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o..._Greek_temples

5 and 6 on the largest list are the Temple of Athena at Priene and the Temple of Dionysus at Teos.

Teos is a nice site - a pleasant stroll through olivegroves to the various sections.

They were working on the temple when I visited.

ashwinb

Thanks OC and Croesus for the info and the photos, looks like you've already been here!
Another place on the list to visit, when(ever) I visit Turkey again, hope that happens soon, it's already been so long.

otherchelebi

The removal of the rails and platforms that served the historic Haydarpasa train station, the Asian side hub or terminus of the Istanbul connection to the national railway ystem, unearthed some major antique and historic structures and objects, including a 2,500 year old structure, Byzantine sarcophagi and at least twelve thousand coins.dating as far back as two thousand years.

Although the station may be open to visits, the digs are not yet.

The station may become a museum if it is not transformed into a commercial building.
The Wikipedia article is dated but gives some useful information.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haydar...ailway_station

otherchelebi

A quick introduction to Boji, the istanbul stray dog who commutes for long hours on the metro, trams and ferries

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FBBFL_cX...name=4096x4096

annhig

That's delightful, OC. i remember hearing about a London dog who did the same but only on the buses and trains, no ferries so far as I remember. His owners only discovered this when one day the dog was ill and they stayed at home to look after him and all the people who were used to seeing the dog on his travels phoned up to ask where he was and if he was all right.

otherchelebi

Two recent events of interest to travelers and the curious:

1. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/mumm...turkey/2385891

2.https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture/tur...urists/2049224
https://www.google.com/search?
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...MygcegUIARDYAQ

zebec

'Good evening and welcome to the Ten O'clock news.
In a surprise move today, the Turkish government has appointed Boji, the wandering dog, as Head of Excavations at a pair of archaeological digs in eastern Turkey. Speaking yesterday at an interview in Erzerum, Boji barked (translated) I accept this appointment on one condition, that I be supplied henceforth with a copy of Canine Approaches to Archaeology, an essential guide written years ago by the esteemed Canadian German Shepherd known as Chimo.'

I am done. the arf

otherchelebi

Zebec, Boji had one other request, nay, demand, that he be allowed to keep some of the bones found in the more recent sarcopagi that he digs up. (not older than 1,200 years)

By the way, nothing that the government does here will surprise me anymore. I am going to borrow some words from "The Nile Shadows" by Edward Whittemore, and use them out of context in line with recent political practice.
What your and my governments are doing "..is a merciless and mysterious arrangement of logic, for a futile purpose."

otherchelebi

Not far from our home. Will try to visit next week when we drive back to Iznik.

https://arkeonews.net/3-mummified-sk...estern-turkey/

also

Tile workshop found in 2000-year-old Roman theater in İznik

BURSA

Archaeologists in Turkey have found for the first time a tile workshop dating back to the Early Ottoman period, during excavations at the 2,000-year-old ancient Roman theater in northwestern Turkey.

annhig

<<By the way, nothing that the government does here will surprise me anymore. I am going to borrow some words from "The Nile Shadows" by Edward Whittemore, and use them out of context in line with recent political practice.
What your and my governments are doing "..is a merciless and mysterious arrangement of logic, for a futile purpose.">>

Getting truer by the day, OC.

That tile factory is fascinating. I hope you get to see it. ditto the other finds.

TDudette

Arf, zebec! 😁🐩

otherchelebi

A Map of Turkic peoples

thursdaysd

Interesting. Where is the red dot in China? And are the blue areas in Siberia indigenous, or the result of Stalin's purges?

Is there a key to the colors?

Croesus

There are some autonomous counties in Gansu Province where Salar is the official language.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salar_language

More info on the list of Turkic languages page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Turkic_languages