Birgi
Coordinates: 38°15′00″N 28°03′32″E / 38.250°N 28.059°E
| Birgi | |
|---|---|
  Birgi | |
| Coordinates: 38°15′N 28°03′E / 38.250°N 28.050°E | |
| Country |
 Turkey |
| Region | Aegean Region |
| Province | İzmir Province |
| District | Ödemiş District |
| Elevation | 326 m (1,070 ft) |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
Birgi is a small town located in the Ödemiş district of İzmir province in Turkey. Its current name is a distortion of its medieval Greek name, Pyrgion (Greek: Πυργίον, meaning "Little Tower").
In antiquity, the town was known as Dios Hieron (Διός Ἱερόν, "Sanctuary of Zeus"). It was renamed to Christoupolis (Χριστούπολις) in the 7th century and was known as Pyrgion from the 12th century on.[1] It is attested as an episcopal see since 451, as a suffragan of Ephesus, which it remained until the late 12th century when it became a separate metropolis.[1] Pyrgion fell to the Turks in 1307, and became the capital of the beylik of Aydin.[1] It was subsequently incorporated into the Ottoman Empire in 1390. Birgi is well known for its classic Seljuk and Ottoman architecture and has been listed as a World Cultural Heritage by ÇEKÜL (Protection and Promotion of the Environment and Cultural Heritage) since 1994.
Notable historic structures
- Çakırağa Mansion — built in 18th-century Ottoman style by the wealthy Çakırağa family.
- Aydınoğlu Mehmet Bey Mosque — commissioned in 1313 by Mehmet Bey, the founder of the Aydinids.
- Tomb of Birgivi Mehmet Efendi — built in 1335 in the courtyard of the Aydınoğlu Mehmet Bey Mosque.
- Sultanşah Mausoleum
- Fortress Madrasa, where Sultan Mehmet II "The Conqueror" (March 30, 1432 – May 3, 1481) was educated.