At the end of first century AD, Idyma became a Roman city. Before in the year 48 BC, julius CAESAR (102-44 BC) traveled the area around 48 BC to Rhodes. The Egyptian queen CLEOPATRA (69-30 BC) traveled the Aegean coasts and visited the city of Ephesus in the year 41 BC. The only inscription from Roman times, that was written in honor of Emperor VESPASIAN (ruled 69-79 AD) is missing unfortunately. Excavation in the year 1922 discovered mosaics from Roman time in the fortress ruins in İnişdibi.
In the third century AD, when Roman Empire was weak inside and destroyed by strong earthquakes as well as devastating plague, the area fell into oblivion. Idyma and the cities in the environment were left.
Life in Byzantine times
It is not exactly how the area was called in the Byzantine times. On a hill at the south side of today's Camping ground a church with apse was found, built in the name of Saint Kosmas. The adjacent area and the gulf were called after him. From this church stones with crosses, relief and inscription are still to be seen. Additionally two remainders of chapels are at the spring of water systems, and at the creek (Papaz deresi) that flows into the sea. This place is called "ERENDEDE". At Akyaka the people respected the special feature of Erendede . Rain-prayers were celebrated and wishes were done there. The people cooked Aşure (a soup-like sweet food) and divided it with the present ones. |
