🇹🇷 Selçuk is a town in İzmir Province in the Aegean Region of Turkey. It is located 2 km (1 mile) north-east of the ancient city of Ephesus, that was once home to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Its previous Greek name, Agios Theologos (Άγιος Θεολόγος), referred to John the Theologian, because emperor Justinian had erected there a basilica in honour of the saint. Ayasoluk is a corrupted form of the original name. In the 14th century, it was the capital of the Beylik of Aydin, and visited by Ibn Battuta. He noted, "The congregational mosque in this city is one of the most magnificent mosques in the world and unequaled in beauty". Under the Ottoman Empire, it was known as Ayasoluk. In 1914, it was renamed Selçuk after the Seljuk Turks who first led incursions into the region in the 12th century.
It was a township in Kuşadası district till 1957, when it became a district itself. Its neighbours are Torbalı from north, Tire from north-east, Germencik from east, Kuşadası from south, Aegean Sea from west and Menderes (formerly Cumaovası) from northwest.
Selçuk is one of the most visited tourist destinations within Turkey, known for its closeness to the ancient city of Ephesus, House of the Virgin Mary, and Seljuk works of art. The 6th century Basilica of St. John the Apostle, which, some claim, is built on the site of the Apostle's tomb, is also inside the town. Procopius said that the basilica was a most sacred and honoured place in Ephesus. It was severely damaged in the invasion of Selçuk Turks in 1090. The place was excavated in 1927, and Pope Paul VI paid it a visit and prayed there.
In 1921, after the capture of the village by the Greek forces, the village had a total population of 600, ethnographically consisting of 580 Greeks, 10 Turks and 10 Armenians.
1Selçuk has a population of over 34,587 people. Selçuk also forms part of the wider İzmir Province which has a population of over 4,367,251 people. Selçuk is situated 79 km south of İzmir.
Twin Towns, Sister Cities Selçuk has links with:
🇬🇷 Dion, Greece 🇵🇹 Fátima, Portugal 🇬🇪 Kobuleti, Georgia 🇦🇹 Lienz, Austria 🇵🇹 Ourém, Portugal 🇲🇰 Radoviš, North Macedonia 🇩🇪 Siegburg, Germany🇬🇷 Nea Smyrni 37.95
🇪🇸 Torrevieja 37.967
🇺🇸 San Rafael 37.967
🇺🇸 Shepherdsville 37.967
🇬🇷 Palaio Faliro 37.933
🇬🇷 Agios Dimitrios 37.933
🇨🇩 Lubumbashi 27.467
Locations Near: Selçuk 27.3667,37.95
🇹🇷 Kuşadası 27.26,37.86 d: 13.7
🇹🇷 Torbalı 27.35,38.15 d: 22.3
🇹🇷 Menderes 27.134,38.254 d: 39.5
🇹🇷 Gaziemir 27.117,38.317 d: 46.3
🇹🇷 Kemalpaşa 27.4,38.417 d: 52
🇹🇷 Karabaglar 27.117,38.367 d: 51.2
Antipodal to: Selçuk -152.633,-37.95
🇵🇫 Papeete -149.566,-17.537 d: 17725.7
🇹🇴 Nuku'alofa -175.216,-21.136 d: 17154.1
🇦🇸 Pago Pago -170.701,-14.279 d: 16837.6
🇼🇸 Apia -171.76,-13.833 d: 16736
🇺🇸 Hilo -155.089,19.725 d: 13596.7
🇺🇸 Maui -156.446,20.72 d: 13479.1
🇺🇸 Maui County -156.617,20.868 d: 13461.6
🇺🇸 Kahului -156.466,20.891 d: 13460