THE shepherd Endimo recited by Homer can be considered from Didim. The mythology has it Endimo lived on Mount Latmos (today Beşparmak) by Lake Bafa.
One day when he fell asleep, tired of shepherding his sheep, Zeus’ daughter Selena saw him and fell in love.
Zeus could not accept his daughter to pick a mortal and when Selena announced she would give up her own immortality to be with Endimo, Zeus convinced her there was only one way: “To put the shepherd to a death sleep”.
When Selena accepted this, her lover Endimo fell into a death sleep which would keep him young forever but then Selena was still immortal. Selena realised her father Zeus had actually fooled her.
She could not reunite with her lover but she promised to illuminate him. It is believed now that every June 15, the waves in Lake Bafa are the teardrops of The Moon Goddess Selena, crying over her lover.
Lake Bafa, covering an area of 60 km sq is the biggest in the Aegean Region. It is only 30 km to Didim. Home of Endimo, who is still protected by the light of Selena, is Heraklia, 45 km from Didim. The original name of Heraklia is Latmos.
Today Kapıkırı Village lives amongst the remains of history. Kapıkırı and its environs have many outstanding beauties, including the ancient stone roads, caves paintings from prehistoric times, ancient monasteries and the Agora overlooking the full view in the middle of the village.
It is great luck that we have them so close by, because it is impossible to see it all, enjoy and appreciate it all in one day. Besides, you will definitely want to come over and over again to share it with your friends.
You can join the tours lead by the local guides; you can hire a boat and visit the islands and swim in the lake while listening to its stories; or you can go on a history trip on donkey-back, stay in tents in Mount Latmos overnight and roast lamb.
If you trust your arms, you can row to the islands and meet the hundreds of different species of birds which nestle in the ruins of the monasteries. You can take a walk by the lakeshore and meet the dozens of different types of orchids in the pathways.
You can sit under the shadow of the centennial olive trees during the day and glide in the realm of dreams while Selena pours her light over the lake at night.
This land, blessed by the nature in every inch of mountain, rock, water, has always been a cradle of civilizations. You will probably notice many problems and wish that it was cleaner, better-kept, and more planned.
Yet, probably you can visit and then start thinking what you can do about it. For better or worse, it is ours and it is worth caring for…
What to See
Latmos
Latmos is the first settlement of Heraklia. You can visit the caves engraved with Byzantine frescos and then go on to the ancient city of Heraklia.
Monastery of Brothers
The Seven Brothers Monastery, founded by the priests coming from the Arabic countries in the 7th century, is at a short walking distance from Bucak Village. The monastery on the slope of Mount Latmos also has a cave engraved with frescos.
Twin Islands
You can get to the island on boats hired from either the pensions or on the shore. It is also possible to take the ancient path from Heraklia. There are ruins of monasteries on both islands. You can camp on the shore of the islands, one of which is actually connected to the land by a thin beach. This beach is the best around the lake and suitable for swimming.
Stylos Monastery
You must take a difficult walk from the road of the ancient city to get to the Stylos Monastery on the slope of Mount Latmos and you will be rewarded with a unique cave embroidered in frescos in this biggest monastery of the region. The monastery owes its fame also to Saint Paulus who survived on pistachios for a long time. On the way, you will see the old mill where olive oil was manufactured by primitive methods.
Marble Quarries
On your way to the ancient marble quarries of Miletus, which provided the marble for the Temple of Apollon, you can breathe the history under the shadow of the centennial olive trees.