Selçuk
Encyclopedia
Selçuk is the central town of Selçuk district, İzmir Province
in Turkey
, 2 km (1.2 miles) northeast of Ephesus
.
Its original Greek name, Agios Theológos (Άγιος Θεολόγος) referred to John the Theologian. Under the Ottoman Empire
, it was known as Ayasoluk . In 1914, it was renamed Selçuk after the Seljuk Turks who settled in the region in the 12th century.
in Kuşadası
district till 1954 and Torbalı
between 1954-1957. It finally became a district in 1957. Its neighbours are Torbalı
from north, Tire from northeast, Germencik
from east, Kuşadası
from south, Aegean Sea from west and Menderes
(formerly Cumaovası) from northwest.
Selçuk is one of the most visited touristic destinations within Turkey
, 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. The old quarter of Selçuk remains generally retaining traditional Turkish culture and locality.
Ayasoluk Hill dominates the surrounding area, with several historical buildings on its slopes, including the İsa Bey Mosque built by the Seljuk Turks in 1375, and the Grand Fortress.
The Selçuk Ephesus Airport and Selçuk Training Center of the Turkish Aeronautical Association
is only 3 kilometers away from Selçuk, offering piloting, parachuting
, and microlight training.
The annual camel wrestling
championship takes place in Selçuk in the Winter, near Ephesus
.
, Germany
Lienz
, Austria
Kobuleti
, Georgia
Dion, Greece
Radoviš
, Republic of Macedonia
Fátima
, Portugal
Izmir Province
İzmir Province is a province of Turkey in western Anatolia on the Aegean coast, whose capital is the city of İzmir. On the west it is surrounded by the Aegean sea, and it encloses the Gulf of İzmir. Its area is 11,973 km.2, population 3.948.848 . The population was 3,370,866 in 2000...
in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, 2 km (1.2 miles) northeast of Ephesus
Ephesus
Ephesus was an ancient Greek city, and later a major Roman city, on the west coast of Asia Minor, near present-day Selçuk, Izmir Province, Turkey. It was one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League during the Classical Greek era...
.
Its original Greek name, Agios Theológos (Άγιος Θεολόγος) referred to John the Theologian. Under the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, it was known as Ayasoluk . In 1914, it was renamed Selçuk after the Seljuk Turks who settled in the region in the 12th century.
Kusadasi
Kuşadası is a resort town on Turkey's Aegean coast and the center of the seaside district of the same name in Aydın Province. Kuşadası lies at a distance of to the south from the region's largest metropolitan center of İzmir, and from the provincial seat of Aydın situated inland. Its primary...
district till 1954 and Torbalı
Torbali
Torbalı is a district of İzmir Province of Turkey.An ancient Ionian city, famous for its wines and religious sites, it has three sancuaries in marble dedicated to the Roman Emperor Augustus and his foster child Germanicus, in an ancient theatre which dominates the valley. Pieces of art found during...
between 1954-1957. It finally became a district in 1957. Its neighbours are Torbalı
Torbali
Torbalı is a district of İzmir Province of Turkey.An ancient Ionian city, famous for its wines and religious sites, it has three sancuaries in marble dedicated to the Roman Emperor Augustus and his foster child Germanicus, in an ancient theatre which dominates the valley. Pieces of art found during...
from north, Tire from northeast, Germencik
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 plain, inland from the Aegean coastal town of Kuşadası, on the Aydın-İzmir highway from the city of Aydın...
from east, Kuşadası
Kusadasi
Kuşadası is a resort town on Turkey's Aegean coast and the center of the seaside district of the same name in Aydın Province. Kuşadası lies at a distance of to the south from the region's largest metropolitan center of İzmir, and from the provincial seat of Aydın situated inland. Its primary...
from south, Aegean Sea from west and Menderes
Menderes, Izmir
Menderes is a district of İzmir Province of Turkey.Menderes district, which is notable for its satsumas, beautiful bays and historical riches, is 20 km. from İzmir. The antique city of Lebedos is situated in the western corner of the district in Ürkmez locality...
(formerly Cumaovası) from northwest.
Selçuk is one of the most visited touristic destinations within Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, known for its closeness to the ancient city of Ephesus
Ephesus
Ephesus was an ancient Greek city, and later a major Roman city, on the west coast of Asia Minor, near present-day Selçuk, Izmir Province, Turkey. It was one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League during the Classical Greek era...
, House of the Virgin Mary
House of the Virgin Mary
The House of the Virgin Mary is a Christian and Muslim shrine located on Mt...
and Seljuk works of art. The 6th century Basilica of St. John the Apostle
Basilica of St. John
The Basilica of St. John was a basilica in Ephesus. It was constructed by Justinian I in the 6th century. It stands over the believed burial site of John the Apostle...
, which, some claim, is built on the site of the Apostle's tomb, is also inside the town. The old quarter of Selçuk remains generally retaining traditional Turkish culture and locality.
Ayasoluk Hill dominates the surrounding area, with several historical buildings on its slopes, including the İsa Bey Mosque built by the Seljuk Turks in 1375, and the Grand Fortress.
The Selçuk Ephesus Airport and Selçuk Training Center of the Turkish Aeronautical Association
Turkish Aeronautical Association
Turkish Aeronautical Association is a non-profit organization with an aim of increasing public awareness and participation in aviation related activities and the national body governing air sports in Turkey...
is only 3 kilometers away from Selçuk, offering piloting, parachuting
Parachuting
Parachuting, also known as skydiving, is the action of exiting an aircraft and returning to earth with the aid of a parachute. It may or may not involve a certain amount of free-fall, a time during which the parachute has not been deployed and the body gradually accelerates to terminal...
, and microlight training.
The annual camel wrestling
Camel wrestling
Camel wrestling is a sport in which two male Tülu camels wrestle, typically in response to a female camel in heat being led before them. It is most common in the Aegean region of Turkey, but is also been practiced in other parts of the Middle East and South Asia.-History:Camel fighting originated...
championship takes place in Selçuk in the Winter, near Ephesus
Ephesus
Ephesus was an ancient Greek city, and later a major Roman city, on the west coast of Asia Minor, near present-day Selçuk, Izmir Province, Turkey. It was one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League during the Classical Greek era...
.
See also
- EphesusEphesusEphesus was an ancient Greek city, and later a major Roman city, on the west coast of Asia Minor, near present-day Selçuk, Izmir Province, Turkey. It was one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League during the Classical Greek era...
- Temple of ArtemisTemple of ArtemisThe Temple of Artemis , also known less precisely as the Temple of Diana, was a Greek temple dedicated to a goddess Greeks identified as Artemis and was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was situated at Ephesus , and was completely rebuilt three times before its eventual destruction...
- House of the Virgin MaryHouse of the Virgin MaryThe House of the Virgin Mary is a Christian and Muslim shrine located on Mt...
- Basilica of St. JohnBasilica of St. JohnThe Basilica of St. John was a basilica in Ephesus. It was constructed by Justinian I in the 6th century. It stands over the believed burial site of John the Apostle...
- Şirince
Selçuk-Ephesus Beach (Pamucak) Hotels
- Ephesus Princess *****
- Aqua Fantasy Hotel&Aquapark *****
- Sürmeli Ephesus *****
- Richmond Ephesus *****
- BurccluB ****
Twin cities
SiegburgSiegburg
--122.148.78.228 05:06, 14 November 2011 Siegburg is a city in the district of Rhein-Sieg-Kreis, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Lienz
Lienz
Lienz 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 Patriasdorf.-Geography:...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
Kobuleti
Kobuleti
Kobuleti is a town in Georgia's southwestern region of Ajaria. It is situated on the eastern coast of the Black Sea. Kobuleti is a sea resort, visited annually by Georgians and many former Soviet Union residents. From the 17th century into the 19th, Kobuleti was a fiefdom of the Tavdgiridze...
, Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
Dion, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
Radoviš
Radoviš
Radoviš is a city positioned in the southeastern part of the Republic of 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 Mountain and the northern part of the Radoviš-Strumica valley. The...
, Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
Fátima
Fatima
-People:* Fatima , a female given name of Arabic origin* Fatima bint Muhammad, daughter of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad* Fatima Jinnah, the younger sister of Muhammad Ali Jinnah...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...