Selçuk

Selçuk is a town in Turkey with a population of 38,151 as of 2022. It is located just 2 kilometres (1 mile) northeast of the ancient city of Ephesus, a place of great historical importance. 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 one of the most visited tourist destinations in Turkey. Visitors come to see not only Ephesus but also 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, which some believe was built on the apostle's tomb. The famous historian Procopius described this basilica as a very sacred and honoured place in Ephesus. Although it was badly damaged during an invasion in 1090, excavations began in 1927, and it was even visited by Pope Paul VI, who prayed there.

History

Selçuk was previously known as Agios Theologos, named after John the Theologian, because emperor Justinian I built a basilica there to honor the saint. Later, it became part of the Beylik of Aydin and was visited by Ibn Battuta, who admired its beautiful mosque. During the Ottoman Empire, it was called Ayasoluk, named after the hill. In 1914, the town was renamed Selçuk after the Seljuk Turks.

Today, Selçuk is a district with 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, and Ayasuluk Hill has 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 experiences hot, dry summers and cool, rainy winters. The climate is similar to many places along the Mediterranean Sea.

Sport

The youth football teams of the İzmir-based sports club Altınordu S.K. play their home matches in the Altınordu Selçuk-Efes Football Complex, located 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 before 1380 and after 1403 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, around 250 AD, hid inside a cave near Ephesus to escape Roman persecutions of Christians and emerged three centuries later.

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.