Lake Bafa
Lake Bafa and its surroundings are a fertile area that people have chosen as their living space for thousands of years. The ancient cave paintings found in the caves around the lake prove that the beginning of the settlement in the region dates back at least to the prehistoric period.
The olive tree, which is located on the shore of the lake and determined to be 2,400 years old in carbon tests carried out by experts, is valued as a cultural heritage.
Those who come to Bafa Lake encounter authentic houses with terraces descending from the lake shore towards the rocks, and daisies that embrace them and approach human height. Bafa Lake, where peace has reigned for centuries, patiently waits for those who grab their backpacks and run to its hills and beaches.
LATMOS HERAKLIASI
The ancient city of Heraklia is reached by following the 10-kilometer asphalt road that separates from the main road after Çam İçi Village in the south of Bafa Lake. The city, which was called 'Latmos' with the name it took from Beşparmak Mountain when it was first founded, was named 'Heraklia ad Latmos', which means 'Heraklia under Latmos Mountain' in the following ages.
Around Heraklia, which was conquered by the Roman General Lizimahos in B.C. 287, city walls, which still stand with all their splendor, were built. These 6-kilometer-long walls, which rise to a height of about 500 meters from the lake level in places, have been strengthened with 65 towers.
Like its neighbor cities Miletus and Priene, Heraklia was built in the Hippodamic style. According to this architectural order, the city was built on a plan created by the streets that cut each other perpendicularly and evoking the patterns on the chessboard. At B.C. 1, a natural event estimated to have taken place in the 1st century has overshadowed the reputation of Heraklia. At this date, the alluviums carried by the Menderes River completely destroyed Heraklia's connection with the sea and, as a result, its maritime trade potential.
Besides its walls, the second most important building in the ancient city is the Temple of Athena, which is located on a natural promontory by the sea and is thought to have been built in the Hellenistic period.
Heraklia's star shone again in the Byzantine period, which followed the rather dull Roman period. Even M.S. VII. In the 19th century, many monks and clergymen from the Arabian Peninsula began to live in the Latmos Mountains. These clergy, some of whom became well-known later on, caused many more immigrants to settle in the region. Latmos Bay, which became one of the largest monastic centers of Anatolia in these ages, took 400 years to rise to prominence in Christianity. However, the monastic life, which paused with the arrival of the Turks in Anatolia, flared up again after the Crusaders defeated the Seljuks.
MONASTERIES
Latmos Bay, a natural extension of the Aegean Sea in ancient times, dates back to lost its importance in the B.C. 50s and in the A.C. 10th century, it lost its connection with the sea. The city of Herakleia, which was founded with its back to insurmountable mountains, lost its importance due to the filling of the mouth of the gulf on which it was located in the Roman period. Immediately after this period, Christians from the Arabian Peninsula and Yemen settled in the region and VII. They established various monasteries starting from the 19th century. Although there were 13 monasteries estimated to have been founded in the region of Heraklia and Latmos during this period, only 2 of them have been identified with their exact names and locations today.
The first record of the name Heraklia in the Council of Ephesus was M.S. It was found in documents dated 431. Also, according to these records, Heraklia IX. century seems to be the center of the diocese. The bishop was sitting in a special building in the castle, located in the south of the city campus. Masses were held in the episcopal church on the shore (now under water).
Yediler Monastery
The largest monastery of Latmos is the Monastery of the Seven. There were 2 churches and a chapel in the section surrounded by walls. This part is thought to have been built earlier than the 10th century. In order to reach the ruins of this monastery, it is necessary to follow the road ascending from Gölyaka Village just before coming to Latmos Heraklia. This road to the monastery was also marked with red paint by local guides.
Rock-paintings that remained intact in a rock in the courtyard to the east of the monastery; It depicts Jesus' birth, baptism, crucifixion, burial, and ascension in scenes and in ancient Greek annotations.
PANTOCRATOR CAVE / AK AVLU MONASTERY
Those who follow the path in a rocky valley between Kapıkırı and Gölyaka villages reach the ancient city of Latmos. The path can be easily followed due to the red paint markings. The monumental tomb, built with stone blocks and marble pieces, reached towards the end of the road, is known as the tomb of Endymion, the mythical shepherd of the region. This area, called the Ak Avlu Monastery, contains the agora of Latmos, a Carian city.
The 'Lord of All' pose in the depictions of Jesus in the cave, last century
