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

Görsel Arşiv Kaynakları

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

Modellerde Başvurulan Kaynaklar

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