About The Project
The efforts initiated in 2019 with the aim of developing an innovative project to promote İzmir focused on the feasibility of a time travel journey through the city’s 8,500-year history. The “İzmir Time Machine” emerged as the product of these efforts, which have been ongoing for over five years.
Implemented in three phases, the project’s first stage (2019–2021) focused on the city center and included 3D modeling studies of historically significant areas that hosted settlements during different periods of the city’s 8,500-year history: Yeşilova Höyüğü, Old Smyrna Höyüğü, Ancient City of Smyrna, Kemeraltı Bazaar, and the Kordon Promenade.
In the second stage (2022–2023), the brightest periods of Ephesos/Ephesus(Efes) and Pergamon(Bergama)—both listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites—as well as Odemis-Birgi, which is on the tentative list, were modeled in three dimensions.
During the 3D modeling process, close cooperation was established with excavation directors; academic literature concerning the modeled areas was utilized; and the insights of various subject-matter experts were consulted. As a result of this comprehensive working method, the visual representations of the modeled areas were designed to reflect the most accurate appearance based on current scientific knowledge.
Drawing on the experience gained from the first two stages and the knowledge obtained from other cultural projects conducted by our Agency during this period, the third stage of the project was designed. Realized in 2023–2024, this stage involved revising the technical infrastructure of the models. All models were standardized in terms of their technical features, resulting in the creation of a high-quality model library.
Additionally, all content in the İzmir Time Machine was entirely renewed in line with the “Hafıza İzmir” approach—an urban identity framework developed and proposed by our Agency for the city of İzmir.
Built over a five-year period through the combined use of capabilities offered by various disciplines—from archaeology to graphic design, from art history to software technologies—the İzmir Time Machine aims to contribute to the cultural promotion of İzmir as a pioneering and original example of the fusion of culture and technology.
In the coming period, efforts will continue to develop content, with plans to launch collaborative projects with various sectors, particularly the game development industry.
İzmir Time Machine
Project Concept Design: Dr. Mehmet YAVUZ
Graphic Design: Orçun ANDIÇ
Content Editor: Dr. Mehmet YAVUZ
Content Writers: Dr. Mehmet YAVUZ – Ayşenur ARDA
Contracted Firms Developing the 3D Models
1st Phase: Area Müzecilik
2nd Phase: Hür Efe Müzecilik – Animinium Studio
3rd Phase: Kairos Consulting
Biblioteka Cyfrowa
David Rumsey Historical Map Collection
Deutsches Archäologisches Institut
Getty Research Institute
İzmir Ticaret Odası
Imperial War Museums
Jean Paul Getty Museum
kulturenvanteri.com
Levantine Heritage
Library of Congress
Rijks Museum
Salt Research: saltresearch.org
The Walters Art Museum
The Harvard Fine Arts Library
The Illustrated London News
Victoria and Albert Museum
Yeşilova Höyüğü;
İzmir’in 8500 Yıllık Sakinine İlişkin İzler: Zafer DERİN
Prehistorik Settlement of İzmir: Yeşilova Höyük: Zafer DERİN
Eski Smyrna;
Being Ionian: the Ionian League, Ionian Migrations and Smyrna: Naoíse Mac
SWEENEY
Eski İzmir I: Ekrem AKURGAL
Eski Çağda Ege ve İzmir: Ekrem AKURGAL
Eski Smyrna Demir Çağı Savunma Duvarları: Hüseyin CEVİZOĞLU
Old Smyrna Excavations: The Temples of Athena: J. M. COOK, R. V. NICKHOLLS, D. M. PYLE
On the Date of Alyattes’ Sack of Smyrna: J. M. COOK
Smyrna Antik Kenti;
Büyük İskender Sonrasında Antik Smyrna (İzmir): Akın ERSOY
İzmir’in Smyrna’sı Paleolitik Çağ’dan Türk Fethine Kadar: Ersin DOĞER
Smyrna’yı M.S. 177 Yılı Depreminden Kurtaran Aelius Aristeides’in 18. 19. ve 20.
Söylevleri: Ayşe YAKUT
Smyrna Akropolü Savunma Yapıları: Hakan GÖNCÜ
Ephesos;
Forschungen In Ephesos 2/1 – Das Theater Von Ephesos: Friedrich KRINZINGER – Peter
RUGGENDORFER (HRSG.)
Forschungen In Ephesos 3: Österreıchıschen Archaeologıschen Instıtute
Forschungen In Ephesos 5/1 – 1953 – Dıe Bıblıothek: Österreıchıschen Archaeologıschen Instıtute
Forschungen In Ephesos 8/3 – Hanghaus 1 In Ephesos: Claudia LANG-AUINGER
Forschungen In Ephesos 8/6 – Das Hanghaus 2 In Ephesos, Dıe Wohneınheıt 4: Hilke THÜR
Forschungen In Ephesos 9/4 – Das Prytaneıon In Ephesos: Martin STESKAL
Forschungen In Ephesos 9/5 – The Bouleuterıon At Ephesus: Lionel BIER
Forschungen In Ephesos 11/1 – Das Hadrıanstor: Hilke THÜR
Forschungen In Ephesos 11/2 – Das Nymphaeum Traıanı In Ephesos: Ursula QUATEMBER
Forschungen In Ephesos 11/3 – Der Sogenannte Hadrıans: Ursula QUATEMBER
iDAI.objects – arachne.dainst.org: Deutsches Archäologisches Institut
Pergamon;
Altertümer von Pergamon III 3 – Das Fundament des Pergamonaltars und die
Aufnahme seiner Fassadenfragmente: Manfred KLINKOTT
Altertümer von Pergamon 5/2 – Das Traianeum: Hermann STILLER
Altertümer von Pergamon 4 – Die Theater-Terrasse: Richard BOHN
Altertümer von Pergamon 2 – Das Heiligtum der Athena Polias Nikephoros: Richard BOHN
dainst.blog/transpergmikro/pergamon-3d : The Transformation of the Pergamon Micro Region between Hellenism and Roman Imperial Period (TransPergMicro)
Birgi;
Birgi: Tarihi, Tarihî Coğrafyası Ve Türk Dönemi Anıtları: Rahmi Hüseyin ÜNAL, M. KIEL, İnci KUYULU ERSOY, Yekta DEMİRALP, Şakir ÇAKMAK ve Ertan DAŞ
Birgi: Coğrafyası, Halk Bilgisi, Tarihçesi, Tarihi Yerleri: Behiç Galip YAVUZ
Dünya Kenti: Birgi: Şakir ÇAKMAK
Kemeraltı;
Birinci Juderia – İzmirin Eski Yahudi Mahallesi: Siren BORA
Der Bazar von Izmir Studien zur Geschichte und Gestalt des Wirtschaftszentrums einer ägäischen Handelsmetropole, Mitteilungen der Fränkischen Geographischen
Gesellschaft: Wolfgang MULLER-WIENER
İzmir Hanları: Bozkurt ERSOY
İzmir Hanları ve Çarşıları Hakkında Ön Bilgi: Münir AKTEPE
İzmir Jewish Heritage (İzmir’in Yahudi Kültür Mirası) Projesi: izmirjh.com
Kapanan Kapılar (İzmir Hanları): Çınar ATAY
Osmanlı Devri İzmir Cami’leri Hakkında Ön Bilgi: Münir AKTEPE
The Church of Agia Fotini in Smyrna in the Documents of the State Archives of Venice: Didem İŞLER
Levant’ın Başkenti İzmir;
19. Yüzyılda İzmir’de Yaşam: Rauf BEYRU
19. Yüzyılda İzmir Kenti: Rauf BEYRU
19. Yüzyılın İkinci Yarısında İzmir ve Çevresinde Sanayi ve Ticaret:
Abdullah MARTAL
Hacılar, Seyyahlar, Misyonerler ve İzmir: İlhan PINAR
İzmir Limanının Hinterlandında Ticaret Yolları ve Ticaret Mekânları: Olcay PULLUKÇUOĞLU YAPUCU
İzmir Oteller Tarihi: Emel KAYIN
İzmir Rıhtımında Ticaret Kordon Boyunda Yaşam 1610-1940: Çınar ATAY
İzmir ve Levanten Dünya 1550 – 1650: Daniel GOFFMAN
Levantine Heritage Foundation: levantineheritage.com
On Dokuzuncu Yüzyılda Doğu Akdeniz Liman Kentinin Yapısı: Tülin Selvi ÜNLÜ
Osmanlı’dan Cumhuriyet’e İzmir Planları: Çınar ATAY
Osmanlı Dönemi İzmir Planları ve Haritaları: İlhan PINAR
Smyrna Quay: George POULIMENOS, Achilleas CHATZICONSTANTINOU
Struggles Over the Shore: Building the Quay of Izmir, 1867-1875: Sibel ZANDİ-SAYEK
The Economic Activities of Ottoman and Western Communities in Eigteenth-Century
İzmir: Elena FRANGAKIS-SYRETT
The Making of an Ottoman Port – The Quay of Izmir in the Nineteenth Century: Elena
FRANGAKIS-SYRETT