Selçuk

Selçuk

Selçuk is a town in Turkey. As of 2022, about 38,151 people live there. It is very close to the ancient city of Ephesus, which is a very important historical place.

Ephesus was once home to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Because of its closeness to these amazing ancient sites, Selçuk is a popular place for tourists. Visitors come to see Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, and many beautiful Seljuk artworks. Another important site in Selçuk is the 6th century Basilica of St. John the Apostle. Some believe it was built on the apostle's tomb. The famous historian Procopius described this basilica as a sacred and honoured place in Ephesus. The basilica was damaged in an invasion, but excavations began in 1927. It was even visited by Pope Paul VI, who prayed there.

History

Selçuk used to be called Agios Theologos, named after John the Theologian. An emperor named Justinian I built a church there to honor the saint. Later, the town became part of the Beylik of Aydin and was visited by Ibn Battuta. He liked the mosque there.

During the time of the Ottoman Empire, the town was called Ayasoluk, after the nearby hill. In 1914, the town was renamed Selçuk after the Seljuk Turks.

Today, Selçuk is a place with a rich history. Near Selçuk is the ancient city of Ephesus, a famous UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old part of Selçuk still shows traditional Turkish culture. On Ayasuluk Hill are important buildings like the İsa Bey Mosque built in 1375. Ephesus Beach, also called Pamucak, is one of Turkey's longest beaches and has many hotels.

Composition

Selçuk District has 14 neighborhoods. They are: 14 Mayıs, Acarlar, Atatürk, Barutçu, Belevi, Çamlık, Cumhuriyet, Gökçealan, Havutçulu, İsabey, Şirince, Sultaniye, Zafer, and Zeytinköy.

Climate

Selçuk has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa). This means the town has hot, dry summers and cool, rainy winters. The weather is like other places near the Mediterranean Sea.

Sport

The youth football teams of the İzmir-based sports club Altınordu S.K. play their home matches at the Altınordu Selçuk-Efes Football Complex, west-southwest of Selçuk. This venue has five football fields and is the largest in İzmir Province.

Notable people

Selçuk has been home to many interesting people throughout history. Bülent Cevahir, a footballer born in 1992, grew up in this area. Another notable figure is Hafsa Hatun, who lived a long time ago and was the wife of Sultan Bayezid I of the Ottoman Empire. The area is also famous for the Seven Sleepers, a group of youths who hid inside a cave near Ephesus long ago to find safety.

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Turkey

Selçuk has friendly partnerships with several cities around the world. These include Dion in Greece, Kobuleti in Georgia, Lienz in Austria, Ourém in Portugal, Radoviš in North Macedonia, and Siegburg in Germany. These partnerships help the cities work together and share ideas.