ACROPOLIS
The word Acropolis, although Greek in origin and associated primarily with the Greek cities Athens, Argos, Thebes, and Corinth (with its Acrocorinth), may be applied generically to all such citadels, including Rome, Jerusalem, Celtic Bratislava, many in Asia Minor, or even Castle Rock in Edinburgh.
The Acropolis mentioned here is the Acropolis of the ancient city Pergamum, which is situated in Asia Minor.
ANATOLIA or ASIA MINOR
Anatolia (Turkish: Anadolu) or Asia Minor is a region of Western Asia, comprising most of the modern Republik of Turkey. It is a geographic region bounded by the Black Sea to the north, the Caucasus to the northeast, the Aegean Sea to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and the Iranian plateau to the east and southeast.
ANTALYA
Antalya (formerly known as Adalia or Attalia) is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern Turkey. It is the capital city of Antalya Province. The population of the city was 775,157 in the 2007 census. Antalya has a Mediterranean climate. Situated on a cliff over the Mediterranean, Antalya is surrounded by mountains. Developments in tourism, starting in the 1970s, transformed the city into an international resort.
Antalya has been settled since pre-historic times. Evidence of human habitation dating back to the early Paleolithic age (150,000-200,000) years has been discovered in the Karain caves, 30 km of the north of Antalya city. Other finds dating back to the Mesolithic (Beldibi caves), Neolithic (Bademağacı Höyüğü) and more recent periods show that the area has been populated by various civilizations throughout the ages.
ANTIOCH (ANTAKYA)
Antioch on the Orontes (Latin: Antiochia ad Orontem; also Great Antioch or Syrian Antioch) was an ancient city on the eastern side of the Orontes River. It is near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey.
Founded near the end of the 4th century BC by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, Antioch eventually rivaled Alexandria as the chief city of the nearer East and was a cradle of gentile Christianity. It was one of the four cities of the Syrian tetrapolis. Its residents were known as Antiochenes.
Antioch was a chief center of early Christianity. Evangelized perhaps by Peter, according to the tradition upon which the Antiochene patriarchate still rests its claim for primacy, and certainly by Barnabas and Paul during Paul's first missionary journey. Its converts were the first to be called Christians. This is not to be confused with Antioch in Pisidia, to which the early missionaries later travelled.
ANTIOCH (PYSIDIAN ANTIOCH)
Antioch in Pisidia - alternatively Antiochia in Pisidia or Pisidian Antioch, in Roman Empire, Latin: Antiochia Caesareia or Antiochia Caesaria - is a city in the Turkish Lakes Region, which is at the crossroads of the Mediterranean, Aegean and Central Anatolian, and formerly on the border of Pisidia and Phrygia, hence also known as Antiochia in Phrygia. The site lies approximately 1 km northeast of Yalvaç, the modern town of Isparta Province. The city is on a hill with its highest point of 1236 m in the north.
Antioch was a capital city for many different cultures because of the economic, military and religious activities of the region. This is the reason why Paul of Tarsus gave his first sermon to the Gentiles (Acts: 13:13-52}, and visited the city once on each of his missionary journeys, helping to make Antioch a center of Christianity in Anatolia.
APHRODISIAS
Aphrodisias, Aphrodisiás) was a small city in Caria, Asia Minor. It is located near the modern village of Geyre, Turkey, about 230 km fromm Izmir.
Aphrodisias was named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, who had here her unique cult image, the Aphrodite of Aphrodisias. According to the Byzantine encyclopedic compilation called the suda, before being known as Aphrodisias, the city had held three previous names: The city was later renamed Stauroúpolis , "City of the Cross" in the Christian era.
The city was built near a marble quarry that was extensively exploited in the Hellenistic and Roman periods, and sculpture in marble from Aphrodisias became famous in the Roman world. Many examples of statuary have been unearthed in Aphrodisias, and some representations of the Aphrodite of Aphrodisias also survive from other parts of the Roman world, as far afield as Portugal (Pax Julia)
ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM / ISTANBUL
The Istanbul Archaeology Museums (Turkish: İstanbul Arkeoloji Müzeleri) is an archeological museum, located in the Eminönü district of Istanbul, Turkey, near Gülhane Park and Topkapi Palace.
The Istanbul Archaeology Museum consists of three museums:
1. Archaeological Museum (main building),
2. Museum of the Ancient Orient and the
3. Museum of Islamic Art (Tiled Kiosk).
It houses over one million objects that represent almost all of the eras and civilizations in world history.
ASCLEPIEION (Asclepion)
In ancient Greece, an asclepieion (or asklepieion) was a healing temple, sacred to the god Asclepius.
Starting around30 BC, the cult of Asclepius became increasingly popular. Pilgrims flocked to asclepieia to be healed. They slept overnight and reported their dreams to a priest the following day. He prescribed a cure, often a visit to the baths or a gymnasium. Since snakes were sacred to Asclepius, they were often used in healing rituals. Non-venomous snakes were left to crawl on the floor in dormitories where the sick and injured slept.
Pausanias remarked that, at the asclepieion of Titane in Sikyonia (founded by Alexanor, Asclepius' grandson), statues of Hygieia were covered by women's hair and pieces of Babylonian clothes. According to inscriptions, the same sacrifices were offered at Paros.
Hippocrates is said to have received his medical training at an asclepieion on the isle of Kos. Prior to becoming the personal physician to the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, Galen treated and studied at the famed asclepieion at Pergamon.
ASPENDOS
Aspendos, an ancient Greco-Roman city in Antalya province of Turkey. It is located 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) northeast of central Serik.
Aspendos is known for having the best-preserved theater of antiquity. With a diameter of 96 meters (315 ft), the theater provided seating for 7,000.
The theater was built in 155 by the Greek architect Zenon, a native of the city, during the rule of Marcus Aurelius. It was periodically repaired by the Seljuks who used it as a caravansaray and in the 13th century, the stage building was converted into a palace by Seljugs of Rum.
AVANOS
Avanos is a town and district of Nevşehir Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey, located 18 km (11 mi) north of Nevşehir, the capital city of the province. It is situated within the historic and touristic region of Cappadocia.
The old city of Avanos, whose name in ancient times was Venessa overlooks the longest river of Turkey, the Kızılırmak (Red River), which also separates Avanos from the rest of Cappadocia.
The most famous historical feature of Avanos, which is still relevant and very visible today, is its production of earthenware pottery. The ceramic trade in this district and its countless pottery factories date right back to the Hittites, and the ceramic clay from the red silt of the Kızılırmak has always been used. It is a popular destination because of its attractive old town with cobbled streets, and superb views over the river.