Meander - a word, a maze, a river, and a puzzle

Submitted by Iza on Fri, 04/11/2025 - 14:23

Text by our correspondent from Didim, Jay Jean Jackson.

The Büyük Menderes (Great Meander) river in Türkiye begins its 382-mile-long journey from a spring in Dinar (ancient Phrygia), twisting and curving its way through the countryside until it reaches the Aegean Sea near the Ancient city of Miletus. It was a critical water source which had contributed to the development of many ancient civilisations, including Priene, Magnesia, Myus, Tripolis etc.

Delta of the Büyük Menderes (Great Meander) river

Ancient Greek tragedy

Submitted by Iza on Fri, 04/04/2025 - 09:16

Text by our correspondent from Didim, Jay Jean Jackson.

In the 6th century BCE, the poet Thespis is reputed to have lept on the back of a cart to recite his poetry, he acted it out as if he were the character in the story, and thus the first known actor was born. According to Aristotle, he was the first to ever appear on stage, and it is from him that we get the word Thespian (actor). The first actor on a stage in any production is still referred to as a thespis, he was also credited with being ‘the inventor of Tragedy’.

Timotheus - new age musician of Miletus

Submitted by Iza on Tue, 04/01/2025 - 13:15

Text by our correspondent from Didim, Jay Jean Jackson.

Timotheus, born in Miletus in 446 BCE, was an Ancient Greek musician and a poet. According to the World History Encyclopaedia, music played an important role during this era in Greece, where the melodies of many instruments were enjoyed. However, it is difficult to imagine that a “new age” of music had been developed, Timotheus had redeveloped the Lyre by adding more strings. Stringed instruments seem to have been favoured by ancient Greek artists because they allowed the performer to sing along to the music they created.

Musician holding a lyre, from the Tomb of the Diver, now in Paestum Museum in Italy

Flora and fauna of Miletus in springtime

Submitted by Iza on Sat, 03/29/2025 - 12:03

Text by our correspondent from Didim, Jay Jean Jackson.

Springtime in Miletus is a beautiful sight; the swallows have returned, displaying flashes of iridescent blue as they dart around with acrobatic agility. The asphodel is in full bloom, giving a wonderful array of colour in the foreground, where it grows amongst the fallen columns that lay strewn everywhere, creating a wonderful juxtaposition between ruins and nature. The backdrop of the ancient theatre which still stands proudly completes the picture, both the nature and the ruins have their roots and foundations anchored in many myths and legends.

Pirates of the Aegean - Julius Caesars capture

Submitted by Iza on Mon, 03/24/2025 - 10:35

Text by our correspondent from Didim, Jay Jean Jackson, with additional contributions from Chris Evans.

It is hard to imagine when you stare across the Aegean Sea from the Turkish coastline at the many islands dotted around that the area was once controlled by a ruthless bunch of pirates over 2,000 years ago.

According to Plutarch, the Greek philosopher, historian, biographer and essayist, the small Aegean Island of Pharmacusa (now modern-day Farmakonisi, Greece), south-west of Miletus, was where Julius Caesar, then a Roman nobleman, was held captive by these pirates for 38 days.