Miletus is briefly mentioned in the bible as the place where Paul says good-bye to the Ephesian elders and warns them of challenges to come and where he leaves one of his travelling companions to recover from an illness.
With 100,000 inhabitants, Miletus was smaller than Ephesus, but still an important town. It was a centre of philosophy and science.
It is a bit disorientating to try to picture the original setting, as the sea has moved so much. At one point we are walking through the harbour, which two small ponds as the only reminders of the past. (The site looks apparently very different in winter, when some of the paths we are now walking on would be flooded.)
As usual, we visit an ancient theatre and are shown the remains of temples, but to me the most impressive building is the bathhouse. I have always pictured bathing as an intimate affair, but the remains of the three large halls with their high ceilings give the impression that bathhouses were places were politics was made.
Another challenging place to live for God…
