Birgi

In antiquity, the town was known as Dios Hieron ({{langx|el|Διός Ἱερόν}}, 'Sanctuary of Zeus'),{{Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art|volume=3 | page = 45}} one of two cities thus named.{{Cite Hazlitt|p. 136}} The city became part of the Roman Republic and the Roman province of Asia with the annexation of the Kingdom of Pergamon.

It was renamed to Christoupolis ({{langx|el|Χριστούπολις}}) in the 7th century and was known as Pyrgion ({{langx|el|Πυργίον}}) from the 12th century on. Pyrgion fell to the Turks in 1307, and became the capital of the beylik of Aydin.

Ibn Battuta visited the city and attended a lecture by the eminent professor Muhyi al-Din.{{cite book|last1=Battutah|first1=Ibn|title=The Travels of Ibn Battutah|date=2002|publisher=Picador|location=London|isbn=9780330418799|pages=107–108}}

It was subsequently incorporated into the Ottoman Empire in 1390.{{Cite book |last=Kiel |first=Machiel |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ukD2oQEACAAJ&q=birgi-+an+old+turkish |title=Birgi: An Old Turkish Cultural Centre in Western Anatolia |date=2013 |publisher=Archaeology & Art Publications |isbn=978-605-396-219-9 |language=en}} Birgi is well known for its classic Seljuk and Ottoman architecture and has been listed as a World Cultural Heritage by ÇEKÜL[http://www.cekulvakfi.org.tr/we-exist-through-nature-and-culture (Protection and Promotion of the Environment and Cultural Heritage)] since 1994.

In 2021, archaeologists unearthed a Byzantine fort.[https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/centuries-old-byzantine-fortress-to-be-unearthed-in-turkey Centuries-old Byzantine fortress to be unearthed in Turkey]

The Roman Era city had an ancient Christian Bishopric attested as an episcopal see from at least 451, It was a suffragan of Ephesus, which it remained under until the late 12th century when it became a separate metropolis.

There are four known bishops of this diocese from antiquity.

• Stephen took part in the Council of Ephesus of 431
• Eustorgios was not present at the Council of Chalcedon (451) and his metropolitan, Stephen of Ephesus, signed on his behalf
• Zoetus was among the fathers of the Council of Constantinople of 680 and the Council in Trullo of 692
• Stephen of Pyrgion participated at the two Councils of Constantinople in 869–870 and 879–880 who dealt with the issue of Patriarch Photios I of Constantinople

Today Dioshieron survives as titular bishopric in the Roman Catholic Church,Pius Bonifacius Gams, Series Episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae , Leipzig 1931, p. 444. so far the see has never been assigned.[http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/d2d49.html Dioshieron] at Catholichierachy.org.[http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/former/t0642.htm Dioshieron] at GCatholic.org.

• 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.
• Aydınoğlu Baths (14th century)
• Tomb of Birgivi Mehmet Efendi (16th century)
• Birgivi Mehmet Efendi Madrasa (16th century)
• Sultanşah Mausoleum
• Fortress Madrasa, where Sultan Mehmed II the Conqueror (March 30, 1432 – May 3, 1481) was educated.
• Sandıkoğlu Mansion (19th century)
• Karaoğlu Mosque (18th century)
• Birgi city walls
• Iron Magazine (16th century)

{{Reflist}}

{{Tentative list of World Heritage Sites in Turkey}}

{{Ödemiş District}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Neighbourhoods in Ödemiş District

Category:World Heritage Sites in Turkey

Category:History of İzmir Province

Category:Aydınids

Category:World Heritage Tentative List for Turkey

Category:Populated places in ancient Ionia

Category:Catholic titular sees in Asia