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May 21, 2015

Thursday’s Child: Ephesus, Turkey

Ephesus was one of the great cities of the ancient world. A Greek city located in what is now Turkey, Ephesus lies mostly in ruins. Over the past 2000 years the port has silted up and the city has lost its importance as a place of culture and knowledge. But a visit to the ruins is evocative of what it must have looked like at its most influential.

Detail on the Domitian Temple, named for a Roman emperor

Stone carving of the Greek goddess Nike

Ephesus was one of the key centres of Christianity in the ancient world, and the city is referred to numerous times in the Bible. Paul’s journeys there are detailed in the book of Acts. Later, the Letter to the Ephesians was written by Paul to encourage and support its Christian community.

Memmius Monument

Pollio Fountain

Although there is some dispute about the population at its peak (estimates run from 35,000 to 225,000), it was unquestionably one of the largest cities in the Roman Empire. At various times it was under Greek, Persian, Roman, Byzantine and Turkish control.

The Temple of Hadrian is one of the best-preserved buildings. Erected in honour of the Emperor Hadrian, it exhibits a stone carving of Tyche, the goddess of luck or fortune, at the top of the marble arch. Directly behind, the face and body of a woman (believed to be Medusa) are carved over the door opening.

The most awe-inspiring building in the area is the facade of the Celsus Library. It was destroyed by earthquakes, and rebuilt from the rubble in the 1970s. This reconstruction also included rebuilding the statues that sit in the exterior niches, honouring four of the ancient virtues – valour, wisdom, intelligence and knowledge. Originally, the library was built to hold over 12,000 scrolls, which were stored in cupboards in the interior walls. Double-layered walls protected the scrolls from heat and humidity.

The Great Theatre is enormous by modern standards. It’s hard to believe that it was built in the third century BC, and enlarged by the Romans in the second century to hold 25,000 patrons. One of these patrons might occasionally have been an emperor, as an Emperor’s Box was found in the lower area.

All that remains of the Temple of Artemis are these ruins, but it was once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Built completely of marble, it was twice as long and twice as wide as the Parthenon in Athens. The Greek writer and mathematician Philon of Byzantium visited most of the wonders, and wrote, “When I saw the Temple at Ephesus rising to the clouds, all these other wonders were put in the shade.”

–
“Fellow Ephesians, doesn’t all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven?”

– The Bible, Acts 19:35

Filed Under: Turkey

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kayte says

    May 21, 2015 at 2:54 pm

    One of Mark and Matt's favorite cities…they found it absolutely magical and awe-inspiring. Your photos are beautiful.

    Reply
  2. Gloria Baker says

    May 21, 2015 at 4:33 pm

    Beth what amazing and beautiful pictures!! amazing!!
    xo

    Reply
  3. Angie Schneider says

    May 21, 2015 at 6:32 pm

    You have been everywhere, Beth. Thanks for sharing those beautiful pictures of Ephesus.

    Reply
  4. Tricia Buice says

    May 21, 2015 at 8:27 pm

    You have all the fun Beth! What a fabulous trip. The information is wonderful and the photos are beautiful.

    Reply
  5. Jemi Fraser says

    May 22, 2015 at 12:57 am

    It always amazes me how such beauty has stood the test of time! Amazing works!

    Reply
  6. Valerie Gamine says

    May 22, 2015 at 1:07 am

    It must feel surreal to stand upon a land that's so rich in history! (I didn't know Nike was named after a Greek goddess!)

    Reply
  7. Monica says

    May 22, 2015 at 10:20 am

    What an amazing place. You got some great pics, Beth. My son would be very interested in this so I need to show him.

    Reply
  8. Barbara says

    May 22, 2015 at 11:09 am

    I'm always astounded and humbled when I visit a site like this one, Beth. Great photos and informative post, as usual.

    Reply
  9. Karen (Back Road Journal) says

    May 22, 2015 at 1:46 pm

    I can just imagine how spectacular this city must have been so long ago.

    Reply
  10. Caryn Caldwell says

    May 24, 2015 at 6:29 pm

    Wow! Every one of those pictures just oozes with the history of the place. So gorgeous and enticing! And I love your commentary, too. Yet one more place I need to add to my list of spots to see someday.

    Reply
  11. Caroline Taylor says

    May 25, 2015 at 9:42 am

    Lovely photos, I think I went somewhere similar to this in Turkey too!

    Reply
  12. Joanne says

    May 25, 2015 at 12:18 pm

    Seeing these ruins must be so breathtaking!

    Reply
  13. grace says

    May 26, 2015 at 12:16 pm

    talk about awe-inspiring! i'm sure i wouldn't be able to contain my goosebumps in places like these!

    Reply
  14. Marcela says

    May 26, 2015 at 3:18 pm

    What a lovely place! I wish to see it one day! Thanks for sharing, Beth!

    Reply
  15. Daniela Grimburg says

    May 26, 2015 at 6:17 pm

    Sounds like an amazing trip, Beth. Beautiful pics of interesting sites with a unique historic and cultural background

    Reply
  16. GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart says

    May 26, 2015 at 9:55 pm

    Such an amazing place and I so enjoyed seeing your photos!

    Reply
  17. Kitchen Riffs says

    May 27, 2015 at 2:31 am

    Ephesus is such an amazing place! We've been once, and only for a day. Not nearly enough time! We'd love to go back — and I'm sure we will someday! Fun post — thanks.

    Reply
  18. Mary @ The World Is A Book says

    May 27, 2015 at 4:46 am

    I have wanted to go to Ephesus for a long time. It looks incredible with all the ruins. It must be an unbelievable feeling to walk among such great architecture here. Beautiful photos, Beth. Hopefully, Turkey moves up our trip list soon.

    Reply
  19. Vanessa Morgan says

    May 27, 2015 at 12:36 pm

    What surprises me is that there are no cats in these pictures. Ephesus is supposed to be beaming with cats 😉

    Reply
  20. Andrea_TheKitchenLioness says

    May 27, 2015 at 4:52 pm

    Beth, what a scenery – it must have been such an incredible adventure to visit the city of Ephesus in Turkey.

    Reply

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