History underwater in Aegean museum

AYDIN - Doğan News Agency

This photo shows the garden of the Milet Museum, which was left inundated after the Büyük Menderes River overflowed its banks due to heavy rain. DHA photo

The Milet Museum in the Aegean province of Aydın and the İlyas Bey Islamic Complex have gone under the water of the Büyük Menderes River because of the heavy rainfall in the Aegean region for the past week.

The museum is home to artifacts unearthed from the ancient city of Milet in the Didim district, and the Islamic complex was opened last year by former Culture Minister Ertuğrul Günay after a restoration process.

The garden of the Milet Museum, which is located within the borders of the ancient city of Milet and under the protection of the Culture and Tourism Ministry, as well as the historical 600-year-old İlyasbey Islamic Complex, which was built in 1404 by Menteşoğlu İlyas Bey, are now underwater because there is no rain water channel around the museum and the historical complex.

Museum workers have difficulty entering the museum because of the water, while the many tourists coming to the museum leave without entering. The generator and other depot areas at the back of the museum are underwater.