Situated at the head of Latmian Gulf, Heraclia was called Latmus at the beginning taking its name from the impressive mountain reaching the height of 1300 meters above the sea level. Hearclia, which was located at the head of the gulf never, became an important city it was far from the popular trade road running form Ephesus to Miletus. Miletos captured most of the sea borne trade. Although it was located in Ionia, Heralia was a Carian city in character and its history was formed by the events of Caria.

King Mausolos used a stratagem to capture the city and he changed the name of the city during his efforts of Hellenisation of the Caria region. To differ it from many other Heraclias, it was called Heraclia under Latmus. In 287 BC Lysimachus, one of the generals of Alexander the Great captured the city. He also built great defense walls for the city that still surrounds the town and most impressive remains in the city. These walls, which started at the lakeshore level climb up to 500 meters altitude, extended nearly four miles and fortified with 65 towers.

Towards the end of the 1 century BC, the prosperity of Heraclia began to decline due to loss of the trade when river Meandros silted up the area and closed the Heraclia’s link with the sea. Second noteworthy monument in Heraclia is the Temple of Athena, situated on a promontory over the beach. This beautiful temple in tem plum in antis dates to Hellenistic period. Heraclia follows Hippodamic style town planning created by the Hippodamus of Miletus. During the Byzantine era, Latmos region attracted great number of monks seeking for the monastic life.

During the 7th century, monks and anchorites from Arabic lands settled in the caves of Latmus Mountain. Some of these monks became so famous and attracted great number of pilgrims and people to the area. Monastic life at Latmus region lasted for 400 years but ended with the arrival of Turks at the 14th century. The monks returned to the region when Crusaders defeated the Turk at Doryleon 1069. According to a tradition, a monk discovered a cave sanctuary on Mt. Patmos. Discovering also a tomb in it, the monks accepted as the tomb of Endymion and converted the shrine to a Christian holy place.

Due to its privileged location, its marble and fishing, Iassos had been inhabited since the earliest days of the history. The city was founded by the Greek colonist coming from Argos nearly 9th BC and then inhabited by the immigrants from Miletus. However, Italian archaeologists under the directorate of Doro Levi have found Minoan houses and Mycenaean pottery which indicates that the site had been inhabited at much earlier date than arrival of Greeks.

The digs started 1960s reveled that oldest part of Iassos was on the top of Acropolis hill, now taken by the Byzantine fortress. These evidences show some similarities between the Crete, Greece and Anatolian cultures. The chief divinities of Iassos were Apollo and Artemis. One of the inscriptions discovered in Iasos mentions Artemis Astias, apparently mixture of old Carian deity Goddess with Artemis the hunter. Her temple had unroofed cella. On the other side, theatre and festivals arranged for Dionysus shows also importance of God Dionysus in Iasos. The city is mainly is situated on the rocky island with the exception of city walls and necropolis.

One of the very impressive monuments of Iasos is a monumental mausoleum, a temple tomb in Syrian style. The burial chamber is surmounted by small Corinthian temple which rested on 10 stepped crepidoma. Although it is dated to Roman Period and many skeletons were discovered in the tomb, we have no idea about the identities of the owners. Behind the village, there are extensive ruins of a defense wall dating to 4th century BC. Rectangular in shape and situated at a certain distance from the town, this wall is believed to be used by a garrison protecting the city.

Among the noteworthy monuments, we can mention partly excavated agora; well preserved Odeon dated to Roman Imperial Period; Ceasarium where main deities of the city were worshipped; ruins of a Roman theatre dedicated to Dionysus and to the people of Iasos; a Roman villa where Italian team discovered the remains of Roman Mosaics and frescoes; a shrine dedicated to Demeter and Kore.

Some of the coins discovered at Iassos show the Dolphin and a young boy. This reminds us the story of a young boy who was befriended by a dolphin, a story both mentioned by Plinius and Aelian. According to Plinius, Alexander the Great was so charmed with the story of Dolphin and young boy, he took the youth along with him on his campaign to Asia and made the boy the head of priesthood of Poseidon, the god of Sea.

Labranda, is a holy area of Zeus Labraundos, is in ancient Karia (South-western Anatolia), 14 km to the north-east of Mylasa city to which it is affiliated. The most ancient findings belong to the year 600 BC.The area that was used as holy area in the 6th and the 5th centuries and then as temple terrace consisted of a single, small, artificial terrace. A war took place in the holy area in 497 BC and Karia army has been defeated by the Persian army with its alliances. The 4th century BC is the most important period for the temple.

At the times of the satraps named Mausolos (377 – 352 BC) and Idrieus (351 – 344 BC), this place gained a new appearance. In 355, during the sacrifice festival in Labranda, Mausolos escaped from an assassination attempt on his life at the last moment. Buildings such as a series of artificial terraces, one or two entrance buildings, a small Dor building (probably a fountain building), monumental stairs, two large feast halls (androns), a shed building (called oikoi), Stoa and Zeus Temple surrounded with columns must have been constructed after this event. With the death of Idrieus in 344, such works have been stopped. Because of the big fire disaster that took place in the 4th century BC, the holy area has lost its feature of being a cult place.

The excavation works here were started in 1948 by A.W.Persson and have been continuing with intervals since that time. The current excavations are being conducted by P. Hellstrom. The access from Mylasa to the holy area was provided via the holy road which is 8 metres wide.

The laying traces on this road can be seen even today. The access to the area was provided with one of the two entrance buildings (propylon). These were impressive passage doors made of Milas marble, having two columns and Ionian frontons on each side. The building called “Dor building” was located to the east of the southern propylon building with its irregular formation, which resembles a rectangle.

It is a building that is turned towards north, has four columns, a front courtyard, a marble side and is in Dor style. It had the function of a fountain building. This small building was included in the bath complex. The stadium lies 200 m to the west of the holy building. Its back side is reinforced with a retaining wall. The starting and final stones used for the competitions still exist at both ends. It is supposed that some competitions were organized in the holy area here during the feast of 5 days.

Miletus, the queens of the Ionian cities, was first founded 3000 years BC. It was first inhabited by the Minoens and the by the Mycenaeans. Ionians came to Miletos 1000 BC. according to the a legend, sacred fish of Apollo dolphin guided Ionians towards present day Miletos. On arriving to Miletos, Ionians built a shrine to Apollo and called it Dephiniaon.

Because of its location and its sea faring people Miletians established 90 colonies all over the Mediterranean Basin including Sinop on the Black Sea Coast, Cyscos in southern Marmara and Naucratis on the Egyptian Delta. The city was also birthplace of famous philosophers, architects, town planners and mathematicians. Thales, Anaximender, Aneximnes, Hipodamos, Isodorus, Aspasia were al native sons of Miletus.

Golden Age of Milestus ended with the Persian occupation during which Miletos was punished and burned as the leader city of Ionians. Persian occupation lasted till arrival of the Alexander the Great who liberated the city after a big battle with the Persians. During the Roman centuries, second golden age started for Miletos. About 41 BC, Miletians erected a monument for the Pompey the Great to thank him cleaning the Mediterranean Basin form the activities of pirates.

Another great visitor of Miletos was Apostle Paul who visited the city during his third missionary trip. After he set sail from Assos, he stopped at Miletus where h met with the elders of the Ephesian Church. This dramatic farewell of Paul took place at the lion harbour of the city. The city was embellished with the fascinating Roman structures during the secong golden age.

Located in the south of Ephesus, The city of Priene offers the marvellous features of a 4th century Greek city. Priene was designed by famous town planner, Hippodamos of Miletus.who designed the city in chess board plan with the strait streets cutting each other at the right angles. Major streets run in the east west direction while the secondary streets run in the north south direction. As a whole city faced to south. This arrangement made the Priene houses getting sun light during the winter mouths and sun went over the roofs of the houses during summer time.

Hippodamos plan made the city divided into insulas or islands. Each rectangular area measuring… had either four houses or one official building. Some of the buildings such as stadium and theatre did not fit into city plan because of their shape and or their size. Besides its town planing, three monuments attract visitors to Priene: Priene theatre is one most beautiful examples of Greek type theatres. This horse shoe shaped theatre is built on hillside and had seating capacity of 5000 people. the theatre had renovations during the different periods of the history.

Located nearly 100 meters above the Meander Valley and sea level, the Athena Temple draws attention of the visitors. This Ionic temple which was designed by architect Pytheos, also architect of Mausoleum in Halicarnasus, became one of the most famous monuments of Ionia. After his temple in Priene, Pyteos published a book explaining the principles of the Ionic architecture. The features he used this temple became canonical orders of Ionic architecture.

Buleterion
The third interesting building in Priene is its charming town hall with seating capacity of 640 people. Town hall where the members of the city council used to meet on the special days of the week was covered over with a wooden roof. The Buleterion is entered through two major doors.