Voices Newspaper Altinkum Didim Turkey - Observer brings history alive

BODRUM’S Enlgish language newspaper, The Observer, has begun teaching ıts forıegners residents the wealth of history surrounding the resort.

The first lecture was given by the first underwater archaeologist of Turkey, Oğuz Alpözen, who was director of Bodrum Museum for 27 years until he retired two years ago.

Alpözen spoke of the past and present of Bodrum and the restorations done in Bodrum Museum in the past 50 years.

The lecture was followed by 60 foreign residents, including British, American, German, Dutch and French, as well as the newspaper’s editor-in-chief Chris Drum Berkaya.

Alpözen gave the lecture in English, speaking of its history, its socio-cultural development and the last 40 years of the Bodrum Underwater Archaeological Museum, accompanied by 200 slides taken at the wrecks in the Museum and the Aegean coast.

Alpözen said, “I am trying to show that Bodrum is not only sand, sun and sea but full of history.

“Eighty per cent of the people who live here still are not aware that one of the Seven Wonders of the World is in Bodrum. Yet, our lessons attracted a lot of interest thanks to the foreigners’ interest in history and learning.”

Chris Drum, who is married to archaeologist Bahadır Berkaya, from Bodrum Museum, said: “The number of foreigners who live in Bodrum throughout the year is about 2,000. During the summer months this figure exceeds 5,000.

“Publications and information on the historical aspects of the city and the environs are very limited for both the tourist and residents of Bodrum. We have held such an activity as a result of the demand from the foreign residents.”

In the coming weeks, he said, there are lessons with guides, archaeologists and historians who will speak about the history and cultural values of Bodrum.