“Judgment of Paris” Drama Performance

Mount Ida is one of the most important natural attractions of Edremit for its variety of endemic plants and natural landscaping which offers different kind of alternative touristic itineraries. Mount Ida was a very famous locality even in the past; considered as the “Mountain of Goddess” in the Greek mythology, it was also known as the Phrygian Ida in classical antiquity and is the mountain that is mentioned in the Iliad of Homer and the Aeneid of Virgil. Unfortunately, as mythology is not contemplated among the lessons of the didactic syllabus released by the Turkish Government, a large part of citizens are not aware about the classical and cultural heritage embodied by the Mount Ida. For this reason, Edremit Municipality, with the collaboration of the “Antandros Association”, is engaged in disseminating awareness about this additional potential touristic and cultural attraction among Edremit citizens and tourists from Turkey and abroad. The “Judge of Paris” drama performance is one of the methods with which Antandros Association tries to involve young and elder citizens to acquaint them to mythology legends in enjoyable and pleasant way. The story of the first beauty contest in the Ida Mountain"Judgment of Paris", considered as the world's first beauty contest, was staged within the European Local Democracy Week in Ida Art Terraces in Altinoluk District by a group of members of the Antandros Association. Mayor Mr. Kamil Saka, Deputy Mayor of ChaniaMs. Eleftheria Alifieraki, CHP Balikesir Provincial Chairman Mr. Ender Biçki, CHP Edremit District President Mr. Yusuf Sel and numerous local citizens attended the performance together. Mayor of Edremit Mr. Kamil Saka, said: "We made a lot of efforts to carry out a variegated range of participatory activities according with the values of the European Local Democracy Week. Ida Mountains and Antandros Ancient City are our most important historic values”. He also thanked the players who made a lot of efforts to prepare the “Judgment of Paris” performance and to the 12 local artists and 12 master star artists which are making “Ida Art Terraces” a must-see arts centre. Ms. Alifieraki noted that she was very happy to be in Edremit and share with the population such nice events.