Winter in Turkey impressions #16: Troy is another very interesting archeological site. Already mentioned in ancient Greek by Homer. After they found the remains, the excavations shows different levels of eras of inhabitations.
Winter in Turkey impressions #8: Göbekli Tepe was of my highlights of the trip. Amazing display of earliest architectures of human beings. This buildings wasn’t used as settlement like Karahan Tepe, rather they were for spiritual use, but quite sure for astronomical observations.
From there i tried to visit also Nemrut Dagi, but couldn’t reach it due the snow. At least i got a wonderful sight of winter-wonderland in Anatolia.
Actually, there’s not really much to see on the excavation site of Jericho. At least it’s not as impressive than other sites in the area. But it claims to be „the oldest city of the world“, as our guide it stated proudly too.
However, the findings and some walls are dated back around 10’000years BCE. This would be as old as the newer founds in Anatolia, like Göbekli Tepe or Karahan Tepe, both i just visited recently too (there is upcoming more blog posts about my Turkey trip soon. Stay tuned!)
Near to the archeological site of Jericho raise also the ‚Mountain of Temptation‘, where according to the bible Jesus get tempted by the devil in his time of fasting.
We hadn’t the time to climb up or even get a ride up in the cable car. That’s the downside of a booked group tour, i have to admit. At least we had a stop for a splendid view on it and a juicy drink in the shade.
It’s not the most impressive Roman remains. Neither by its size, nor its preservation or buildings. The location is it, what makes it for a nice stop on my way up north along the coast.
And the location gave this town also the name: Caesarea Maritima For more details to its history follow the link i provide.
Altough there was already a few bus loads of tourists, the site wasn’t overrun. At the amphitheatre, overlooking the sea, a group of young Americans sang even a few short songs for the audience. I enjoyed it with the crowd, but later i went my own way.
The trick is, to bring patience and let pass the tour groups, try to move between the groups and find farther niches, which let me imagine how the life was around 2000 years ago.
Looking over the mosaic floor trough the archway and stepping out on the terrace to catch some sea breeze. Life wasn’t that bad here 2000 years ago…
rene bauer photography 