Miletus, one of the greatest Ionian cities of Asia Minor, was renowned not only for its majestic temples and agoras but also for its well-designed residential districts. The city`s layout, created by the architect Hippodamus in the 5th century BC, became a model of classical Greek urban planning, featuring a precise grid of streets and functional zoning.
1. The Hippodamian Plan: The "Ideal City"
• After the Persians destroyed Miletus in 494 BC, the city was rebuilt with an innovative layout:
• Rectangular street grid: Wide main streets (plateiai, up to 7 m across) intersected with narrow alleys (stenopoi, 3–4 m wide).
• Standardized city blocks (insulae): Measuring approximately 30 × 60 m, each contained 4–6 houses.
• Centralized water supply: Sewer channels ran beneath the streets, and fountains stood at crossroads.
• Example: The street leading from the Southern Agora to the Lion Harbor still preserves its original basalt pavement.
2. Houses of Miletus’ Aristocracy.
Excavations have revealed two main types of dwellings:
A. Hellenistic Houses (4th–3rd centuries BC)
• Peristyle courtyards: Inner colonnaded courtyards surrounded by living quarters.
• Pebble mosaic floors: Geometric patterns (e.g., in the "House of the Mosaic" near the theater).
• Sun-dried brick walls on stone foundations.
B. Roman Villas (1st–3rd centuries AD)
• Atriums with impluvia (rainwater collection pools).
• Terracotta heating pipes (hypocaust system).
• Frescoes with floral motifs (fragments found near the Baths of Faustina).
3. Preserved Streets & Neighborhoods.
Though most buildings are in ruins, the archaeological site reveals:
• "Sacred Way" – A paved street between the Theater and the Temple of Apollo Delphinios, lined with shop remains.
• "Fishermen’s Quarter" near the harbor – House foundations with fish-salting tanks.
• "Capitol Avenue" – A broad street linking the Northern Agora to the port (curbstones still visible).
• Drainage system – Underground canals that still divert rainwater today.
4. Daily Life in Miletus’ Quarters
• Commerce: Ground floors often housed shops (some contained merchant scales).
• Religion: Small altars to Hermes and household gods stood in neighborhoods.
• Public spaces: Crossroads featured nymphaea (fountains) and stone benches.
5. Why Was Miletus’ Layout Unique?
• Influence on other cities: Hippodamus’ principles were adopted in Priene, Alexandria, and even Piraeus.
• Terrain adaptation: Despite the grid, streets followed natural slopes and wind patterns.
• Evolution visible: Unlike Pompeii, Miletus shows 700 years of architectural development.
