Miletus was one of the greatest commercial centres of the Greek world before its harbor silted over. The first settlers were Minoan Greeks from Crete, who arrived between 1400 BC and 1200 BC. The Ionians, who arrived 200 years later, slaughtered the male population and married the widows. Michael Wood in his book ''In search of the Trojan War'' says that women and children who were the only survivors after the Trojan War were brought to Miletus and from there to Greece where they became slaves.
It is remarkably intact, 25 000 seat amphitheatre built by the Ionians and kept up by the Romans. Along the third to sixth rows some insriptions reserving seats for notables are still visible, and the vaulted passages leading to the seats have the feel of the modern sporting arena. When you climb to the top of the theatre you can see the defensive walls built by the Byzantines.
Delphinion and Nymphaion
Not much is left of Delphinion which was a sanctuary of Apollo. and all only one story remains of Nymphaion which was once a highly ornate three-story structure, that resembled the Library of Celsus at Ephesus and once distributed water to the rest of the city.
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