Miletus

A few more miles up the road is the former coastal city of Miletus--the whole valley now silted up but wonderfully fertile--the major port of the Ionian League. Miletus thrived until taken by the Persians in the 6th century BCE and was rebuilt by the Greeks after Alexander and then by the Romans. Most of the remaining ruins are Roman in style and origin. It was the home of the pre-Socratic philosopher Thales. Just FYI.

Set on the hill overlooking the place is its best-preserved feature, its theatre

Interior view, with the Byzantine citadel rising in the background

Nosebleed view

Goodyear blimp view

The two axes, I believe, were a symbol of Carian resistance

to the Romans

The one nice frieze, found by Vicki, apparently over-looked by the British Museum;
apparently they had already reached their loot-limit for that season

Claw-footed bleachers

The south agora and Faustina's Baths (Marcus Aurelius' wife), said to be the 
model for Turkish baths

The Nymphaneum

Me on the Sacred Way, north agora

The Harbor Monument

Sunset at Miletus

Leaving, the next morning; the nice staff at the site had permitted us to over-night 
in the parking lot; note: much of the area is marshy, and there are mosquitoes...