Turkey

We had a lecture on Mustafa Kemal - Ataturk (Father of the Turks) - who challenged the old order and in 1922 the sultanate was abolished and a republic declared. Ataturk became the first president and effectively a benign dictator for 15 years. The capital was moved from Istanbul to Ankara; Islam was removed as the state religion; polygamy was banned and women were given the vote. He is still revered today although our lecturer said he would be turning in his grave if he saw the wife of the current president in full Islamic dress. One of our guides also indicated that the Islamic fundamentalists were again gaining stronger influence.

Our excursions during our two days of visits to Turkey - to the ports of Antalya and Tasucu - ancient ruined cities, two of which were high up in the Taurus mountains. They date from 7th century BC but with substantial extension and modification during the Roman period. It is believed these were abandoned in about the 5th century AD and suffered much destruction during an earthquake in the 7th century AD. The most impressive of these ruined ancient cities is Termessos, which has to be approached by a long steep and rocky path and passes through levels of outer city walls as one goes higher and higher.

The upper level is well fortified with walls still visible to a great height, containing a gymnasium (converted by the Romans into a bath house) and a paved shopping area, once lined with a row of now ruined colonnades.The most impressive surviving building is the theatre with a more than semicircle auditorium, which could once have housed 4,000 people. We climbed over the large fallen stones into the rows of seats. One of our group was a member of a classical quartet, which was providing entertainment on the cruise. She climbed down to the bottom of the auditorium and sang a piece of an Italian aria. Magical!

 

Robert Cole