Ephesos

We got up this mornýng around 8 and had breakfast by hald 8. We were supposed to go to výsýt Ephesos an important Ionian city and later seat of the Roman governor of Asia Minor. After our disappointing experience at Troy, we were concerned that today was going to be similar to that. However, it was a great tour with a fantastic tour guide. She really was explaining the history and the site very well.

Ancient Roman Toilets

Ephesos was originally established at the base of Mount Pion, on a natural harbor at the delta of the Cayster river. Hellenistic Ephesos was planned on a grid system at the W base of Mt. Pion and in the narrow valley S of Mt. Pion and NW of Mt. Koressos. The city was enclosed by massive fortification walls reaching a height of 10 m and extending over a distance of 9.6 km. The ancient harbor lay to the NW of the city center and was approached by 600 m long avenue early 5th century A.D. The harbor area was dominated by a large gymnasium and bath complex. The city's center, at the E end of the long avenue (the Arcadian Way), contained the 24,000 seat theater, the commercial or lower agora, known as market, the Library of Celsus, and possibly the official residence of the Roman governor.

Angel of Nike

The structures at this sanctuary consisted of the monumental temple to Artemis and a single large altar.The Archaic temple of Artemis was the largest building in the Archaic Greek world and the first large structure to be built entirely in marble. The temple of Artemis was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

In the 7th century B.C. Ephesos fell to the Cimmerians and in the 6th century it came under the control of the Lydians. The city walls were demolýshed under the influence of King Croesus and all the inhabitants were forced to build a new unfortified city farther inland. Once this king fell, the city with the rest of Ionia became part of the Persian Empire. After the defeat of the Persians by the greeks, Ephesos became a member of the Delian League. Before ýt was gýven back to the Persians for a very short time until Alexander the Great defeated the Persians.

House of the Virgin Mary

At ca. 290 B.C. the people of Ephesos were compelled to leave their site once again and to make a new cýty at the shore. This city included over 9 km of fortification walls. Today the site is 5 km from the sea due to the silting action of the Cayster river.

In 133 B.C. Ephesos became the capital of the Roman Province of Asia and one of the largest and most important commercial centers of the eastern Empire. In the 3rd and 4th centuries A.D. the prosperity of Ephesos declined with the decline of Roman power and it was raided by the Arabs.

When we finished the tour 4 of us from the group decided to go and visit the house of the Virgin Mary. This meant walking about 7km up the hill! :) The scenary was amazing, out of this world. The walk...well lets just say that from all the travelling with the bus I was begining to forget I had legs! :) When we made it to the house they let us in for app 3 TYL (about pounds 1.50). The normal price is 10 TYL each! I thought that was very nice of them! We got the Taxı back! I rewarded myself with Ice cream and later on we had nice Sandwiches!

Library

Library with entrance to Market (Agra) on the left

St John`s Basilica

The view of the Library in Ephesos

View of Ephesos from the theatre

We found John