Özdere
Özdere is located on the Aegean coastline. The lonians inhabited the coast from Ephesus and to Teos. History of Özdere starts with the name of Kesre. Kesre village, the origin of today's Özdere, was built in Cumhuriyet Quarter(?), 1 km north of the slopes of mountains, in 1700s, and took the name of Özdere in 1960. It has a 22 km long coast. The town has a Mediterranean climate and is famous for the fresh air due to being surrounded by forests.
Claros
Claros, a sacred area, is located 13km southeast of Colophon, (Değirmendere) and 2km north of Notion (Ahmetbeyli). The Temple of Apollo was famous for being an oracle centre in Hellenistic and Roman Periods. As Homeros mentioned, this sacred area was an important cultural centre. The temple was built in Doric style. Claros had never been an independent town and always displayed progress in relation to Colophon. There was a sacred road
From propylone to Apollo Temple, which was full of columns and statues on both sides? The inscriptions of people who went to consult the oracle were found in Propylone. In excavations, the big pieces of the statues of Apollo, Artemis and Leto were found in cella of the temple, which is still standing. There is a memorial altar in 2,5m front of the temple. There is a well protected stone sundial at the north of the altar of Apollo Temple and an inscription belonging to the director of the agora from the Hellenistic period. The statues and relieves are exhibited in the Izmir Archaeology Museum.
Colophon
Colophon was one of the oldest and most important towns of the twelve lonian cities. The city was established on three hills in a village called Değirmendere today and wa first discovered in 1866. The Smyrnaian poet Mimnermos mentioned that the town was built by the migrants from Pylos. Colophon people were wealthy due to fertile lands and their skills in navigation. According to the ancient writers Colophon lost its power because of comfortable life style. However, Strabon stated about the fame and the success of the Colophon cavalrymen. From inscriptions, it is known that the cavalrymen of the town, who were also known for horse training, were going to other towns as mercenaries. Lydians and Persians ruled Colophon. Lydian captured the town in the first half of the 7th century B.C. Later Persians invaded the town in the second half of the 6th century B.C. The town joined in Attica-Delos Sea Council which was established in 478-477 B.C. After having survived from Persian invasion like many other cities, Colophon achieved its liberty in 330 B.C. by the invation of Alexander the Great.
After the death of Alexander the great, Lysimachos, one of his generals, forced the people of Colophon to move to Ephesus in 294B.C. Colophon, which had its golden period in the 7th and 6th centuries B.C., had kept its importance only because of the temple in Claros. During the Roman period the city was independent and the main centre was in the acropolis of Notion. The ruins of Colophon are well preserved. The city walls fortified with twelve semi circular towers were built at the end of the 4th century. In the excavations, houses, a stoa and a temple dedicated to Demeter were unearthed.
