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Turkey Travel Guide:Ephesus |
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Turkey | ||
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Best Places to Visit Country Facts Tourism Information Other Countries |
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Turkey Travel Guide:Ephesus |
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Ephesus (Efes) is believed by many to have
existed since the 11th century B.C., although historic records of the town
can be traced back only the 7th century B.C. Ephesus is regarded as
one of the premier archaeological sites in the world. It is well
preserved (most building are reconstructed) and extensive, possessing a wide
variety of buildings, and some unexpected sites including a
advertisement for a brothel and a well- preserved
latrine.
Although today an inland site, Ephesus was originally a port whose harbor and river silted-up to such a degree that the location became landlocked. Many are mistakenly attracted to Ephesus based on a desire to see the grand Temple of Artemis (a Greek goddess), which was regarded as one of the "Seven Wonders of the Ancient World". Unfortunately, the Temple of Artemis was destroyed and its location is marked by a single column. It is well recorded, however, that the cult of Artemis was a force in the early history of Ephesus.
A view of an ancient aqueduct and one of the many public bath areas in Ephesus.
The history of Ephesus involves an amalgam of nations including the Persians, Greeks (Alexander the Great captured the town in 4th century BC) and Romans and eventually the Turks. Christianity was present, as St. Paul and St. John visited the city and the Virgin Mary's final home was a short distance from Ephesus. The town was destroyed by the Goths in the 3rd century AD and never again regained its glory.
These gates, next to the Celsus Library, marked the entrance to the Agora, which served as both a marketplace and a meeting place. The gates date from the 4th Century B.C.
The Celsus Library, reconstructed using its original materials, is located in one of the most interesting sections of Ephesus. The two-story building once housed a great library that was destroyed in the 3rd century A.D. Most tourists see Ephesus during an excursion from a cruise. If you are on a cruise tour, your that time will be limited. We urge you to see as much as you can during your brief visit. If you can control your schedule, you will want to spend the night in Selçuk, Izmir or Kusadasi to allow an entire day wandering the Ephesus site. During summer the heat can be very oppressive at mid-day, so be sure to take water, wear a sun hat and use a good quality sunscreen.
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The Trajan Fountain was built in the Second century A.D.
The Grand Theater, built in the 1st century A.D. seated 25,000
The Marble Road was used for transportation and a sewer ran underneath. There is a sign carved in the marble indicating directions to the local brothel.
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