Walking With the Goddess in Turkey - with Deb Swingholm

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Walking With the Goddess in Turkey - with Deb Swingholm www.floweringmoon.com Contact: deb@floweringmoon.com Turkey has a long history of reverence for the Divine Feminine.

1 Walking With the Goddess in Turkey - with Deb Swingholm Contact: deb@floweringmoon.com Turkey has a long history of reverence for the Divine Feminine. For centuries, the Goddess was honored here as Artemis, Aphrodite, Athena, Demeter, and Cybele or Kubaba. More than 8000 years ago, the Great Mother of Anatolia was pictured as a woman seated on a throne; sitting next to her are two leopards and it appears that she is giving birth. Other ancient Goddess figurines are round and full, with stripes like bees; marks that remind me of dripping honey. The many-breasted Ephesian Artemis is similarly decorated with flowers, fruit, bees, bulls, and symbols of nature. This feeling of fertility and abundance is everywhere in Turkey. I have traveled here many times, and each time I leave feeling inspired, creative, and soul-nourished. I am looking forward to sharing one of my favorite travel destinations with you! We will explore beautiful landscapes, ancient ruins, temples, sacred sites and some of the most incredible art and architecture in the world. Friday, May 16: Depart for Turkey (international air travel on your own). Saturday, May 17: Arrive in Istanbul, connect to Izmir where the group will be met and transferred to Alaçatı, a charming town on the Aegean which is famous for its architecture, olive groves and vineyards. Here you will stay at the lovely Manastir Alaçatı, which is built on the grounds of a beautiful old monastery. Sunday, May 18: After breakfast we will spend the morning exploring Alaçatı, visit art galleries, shops and perhaps a local market. In the afternoon we will travel to Selçuk, a town very close to Ephesus where we will stay at the family run Nilya Hotel. Breakfast included. Monday, May 19: Today we will have a full day s tour of the ruins of Ephesus which are considered to be the bestpreserved classical city on the Mediterranean. Our guide will take us through the entire city, explaining its history. It is the best place to understand what life was like in Roman times.

Dedicated to Goddess Artemis of Ephesus, this Ionian refuge became the second largest city in the Roman Empire. Here stood the great Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

2 Dedicated to Goddess Artemis of Ephesus, this Ionian refuge became the second largest city in the Roman Empire. Here stood the great Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Rebuilt several times, this temple drew pilgrims to Ephesus for centuries. One of the highlights is the Library of Celsus, considered one of the most beautiful structures in Ephesus. It was built in 117 A.D. and was a monumental tomb for Gaius Julius Celsus Polemaenus, the governor of the province of Asia; from his son Galius Julius Aquila. The grave of Celsus was beneath the ground floor, and across from the entrance was a statue of Athena. After lunch we will see the Basilica of St. John then travel into the hills to visit the shrine of Meryemana - the house where Mother Mary is said to have spent the last years of her life. We will pause to meditate and pray here. We will also gather healing water at the sacred spring. Breakfast and lunch included. After a rest, our van will meet us in the early evening and take us to the charming hillside town of Sirince where we will have dinner. Tuesday, May 20: Today we will drive into the country-side as we visit the sites of Priene, Didyma and Miletos. First, we will spend time at peaceful Priene, an ancient Hellenistic city, the home of an important temple of Athena, considered a classic example of pure Ionic style. Priene's ruins also hold a Temple of Demeter, and a Temple of Cybele. Much of the city is well-preserved and there are several standing columns of the Temple of Athena. Rich artifacts excavated in Priene now grace museums in London, Paris, Berlin and Istanbul. We will have time to meditate with the Goddesses here and connect with the land. Driving on, our next stop will be Didyma, not far from the coast. The name Didyma means twins and refers to the twins Apollo and Artemis. Apollo s temple was in Didyma, while Artemis s temple was in Miletos. The temples were connected by a sacred way which can still be seen. Didyma was an important sacred site in the ancient Greek world, famous for its Oracle who, it is said, predicted the victory of Alexander the Great at Gaugamela. The Oracle at the Temple of Apollo brought large groups of pilgrims, and it was second in importance only to Delphi. The earliest fragments of the temple found so far date to the end of the 8 th century, BC. Of the 122 original 60 tall Ionic columns that surrounded the temple, three remain intact. We will have lunch at Didyma. A short drive takes us to Miletos, which was also on the sea in ancient times. Its magnificent theater was built during the Hellenistic period and held 15,000 people. A fortress was built upon it during the time of the Byzantines. On the opposite side of the theater there is a Seljuk Caravanserai and the baths of Faustina, wife of Marcus Aurelius ( A.D.) Breakfast and lunch included.

Wednesday, May 21: In the morning after breakfast, we will leave Selçuk. Driving west, we will enjoy a private tour of Aphrodisias, the City of Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, Beauty and Fertility.

The city has been here for millennia and has an acropolis on a hill formed of the remains of settlements dating back at least to the Early Bronze Age, and as old as 2800 BC.

It is easy to imagine the rich offerings, dance, music and fertility rites performed at her temple here.

The museum there has a fine collection of Roman sculpture and we will see the beautiful Faces of Aphrodisias.

3 Wednesday, May 21: In the morning after breakfast, we will leave Selçuk. Driving west, we will enjoy a private tour of Aphrodisias, the City of Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, Beauty and Fertility. This beautiful valley is often overlooked by travelers. The city has been here for millennia and has an acropolis on a hill formed of the remains of settlements dating back at least to the Early Bronze Age, and as old as 2800 BC. One of the region's most interesting archeological sites, this is where pilgrims came to pay homage to Aphrodite. It is easy to imagine the rich offerings, dance, music and fertility rites performed at her temple here. With a fine marble quarry nearby, Aphrodisias developed a famous sculpture academy in Roman times. The museum there has a fine collection of Roman sculpture and we will see the beautiful Faces of Aphrodisias. After visiting with Goddess Aphrodite, we continue on to Pamukkale, where we will have a chance to see the famed cascading travertine pools before taking an early evening flight to Istanbul. There we will be met and transferred to our hotel in the heart of historic Sultanahmet, The Daphne. Breakfast and lunch included Thursday, May 22: Today we will have a full day of private sightseeing in Istanbul, which will begin with captivating Topkapi Palace. The Palace which was constructed by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror in 1478 was the official residence of the Ottoman Sultans for 380 years. This enormous complex was also the center of State Administration, but now the palace is famous for its superb collection of ceramics and jewels as well as for its famous Harem (women s private quarters) with its walls of exquisite tiles, which will be included in your visit. The palace was replaced with the construction of Dolmabahçe Palace by Sultan Abdülmecid in the mid 1800 s. While still within the walls of the palace you will visit the Archaeological Museum, in the outer gardens. The museum has a large collection of Turkish, Hellenistic and Roman artifacts. After lunch we will visit the greatest surviving example in the world of all Byzantine buildings, Hagia Sofia. Called the "Shrine of the Holy Wisdom of God" or The Church of the Holy Wisdom this magnificent Byzantine Church is one of the finest architectural works in the world. Sophia or the logos was considered to be the feminine, creative aspect of God.

Hagia Sophia was rebuilt in her present form between 532 and 537 under the personal supervision of Emperor Justinian I.

4 The original building was errected on this site in the fourth century by Constantine the Great. With its colossal dome and unusual construction techniques, it is was considered the greatest church in Christendom until Istanbul was taken in Hagia Sophia was rebuilt in her present form between 532 and 537 under the personal supervision of Emperor Justinian I. For centuries it was the largest building in the world, and is still the fourth largest church. Its soaring dome became a model for other churches and mosques around the world. Hagia Sophia is also known for its stunning mosaics of the Virgin Mother, Jesus, saints, emperors and empresses. Our last stop will be across the street from the church at the Basilica Cistern, whose name derives from a large public square on the First Hill of Constantinople, the Stoa Basilica, beneath which it was originally constructed. Beneath the city streets, this mysterious structure is 143 meters long and 65 meters wide. The roof is supported by 336 marble columns, mostly in Ionic or Corinthian styles. Spaced at fourmeter intervals, they are arranged in 12 rows of 28 columns each. It once held 80,000 cubic meters of water, pumped and delivered through nearly 20km of aqueducts. Goddess Medusa reigns here, with two great images arranged so her face is reflected in the water. Before being converted to a cistern, a great Basilica stood in its place, built between the 3rd and 4th centuries during the Early Roman Age as a commercial, legal and artistic center. The enlarged cistern provided a water filtration system for the Great Palace of Constantinople and other buildings on the First Hill, and continued to provide water to the Topkapi Palace after the Ottoman conquest in 1453 and into modern times. Breakfast and lunch included. Friday, May 23: Today we will visit the monumental Blue Mosque (the Sultan Ahmet Mosque) which was built between 1609 and The intricate Iznik tiles on the walls and ceiling give the entire space a delightful blue atmosphere. Sultan Ahmet I set out to build a mosque that would rival and even surpass the Byzantine Hagia Sofia built by Emperor Justinian, which is just across the park. Continuing on we walk across the Roman Hippodrome, where your guide will give you the history of this important site which was the scene of chariot races and political riots in

Byzantine times. This was also the place for horseback riding games and archery contests during the Ottoman era.

sold next to natural sponges, the rough, hand woven kese (used in Turkish baths for scrubbing) and nuts of every description.

A few steps away from the spice market you will next visit the most attractive of Istanbul s smaller mosques, the gem of Rustem Pasa.

5 Byzantine times. This was also the place for horseback riding games and archery contests during the Ottoman era. Prepare to be dazzled by our next stop today, the Spice Market, where you will see the best of fresh herbs and spices, amazing sweets, dried foods and a great variety of oils and rose water being sold next to natural sponges, the rough, hand woven kese (used in Turkish baths for scrubbing) and nuts of every description. This market which was built in the 1600 s is one of the oldest in Istanbul. A few steps away from the spice market you will next visit the most attractive of Istanbul s smaller mosques, the gem of Rustem Pasa. The 16 th Century tiles, inside and out, are among the most profuse of any mosque in Turkey and mainly from the finest period of Iznik tile production. After lunch our guide will take us to the famous Grand Bazaar. A place that can be considered a medieval city within a medieval city, this is a 750-year-old microcosm of international trade in the heart of ancient Istanbul. A fascinating place for travelers to visit (even though it is given short shrift by many guidebooks), the bazaar is one of the oldest and largest covered bazaars in the world and contains over 3,000 shops. The main street (by tradition the streets are divided by trade), Kalpakchilar, is euphemistically called Gold Street because of what seems like miles of gold shops, each displaying a king s ransom of glittering gold. Almost every window still displays the simple, traditional bracelets worn by Turkish women who use them as their bank accounts. Everything from a $10 trinket to a $100,000 ring can be found in these shops. In addition, one can find carpet shops, traditional and ethic jewelry, silversmiths, coppersmiths, old coins, amber, leather goods and textiles as well as Ottoman and Russian antiques. Breakfast and lunch included. Saturday, May 24: Today is a free day to explore Istanbul spend the day as you wish: shop, rest, enjoy a Turkish Bath (highly recommended!) or visit other historic churches or mosques. Breakfast included. Sunday, May 25: We will be transferred to the Istanbul Airport for our return flight home. Breakfast included.

6 May 2014 pricing, per person, sharing $2480 (single supplement $460) INCLUDES: 1 night accommodation at the Taş Hotel in Alaçati (standard rooms) 3 nights accommodation at the Nilya Hotel in Selçuk (standard rooms) 4 nights accommodation at the Daphne Hotel in Istanbul (standard rooms) Istanbul/Izmir Denizli/Istanbul flight tickets Private airport transfers in Izmir *(1), Denizli (1) and Istanbul (2) Private transfer from Alaçati to Selçuk 3 days private tours in Ephesus area (including transportation, guiding, lunches and entrance fees) 2 days private tours in Istanbul (including transportation when needed, guiding, lunches and entrance fees) Breakfast daily A la carte lunches on tours All taxes and VAT Recommended reading list Restaurant and shopping information *important: please discuss international flight arrival in Istanbul with us, as we will coordinate your connection to Izmir and make sure you can transfer with the group to Alaçati. **itinerary may be subject to slight changes due to closures, construction, or availability NOT INCLUDED: Visa upon arrival in Turkey ($20.00) or in advance at Customary tips to guides and drivers Travel insurance Meals not listed on above itinerary Alcoholic beverages with meals Items of a personal nature International airfare Reserve your trip with a $ deposit ($400 of this is non-refundable) Final payment is due before April 1. The trip is non-refundable after April 1. *final payment can be made in two installments, if you like **a 2% fee applies for credit card payments You will need to provide: Full name exactly as it appears on your passport Passport number Date of birth Telephone number address and mailing address

7 If you have extra time we can suggest: extra nights in Istanbul, or a trip to the extraordinary Cappadocia region. Please let me know and I will provide itinerary options and pricing.

MSMC Ecclesia Series Fr. Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.

MSMC Ecclesia Series Fr. Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D. http://catholic-resources.org THURS, MAY 23, DAY 11: KUSADASI to SMYRNA to PERGAMUM to AYVALIK: Izmir (ancient Smyrna), one of the oldest cities of the