EPHESUS

 

What to see in Ephesus in one day ? 

Ephesus was an ancient port city whose well-preserved ruins are in modern-day Turkey. The city was once considered the most important Greek city and the most important trading center in the Mediterrannean region. Throughout history , Ephesus survived multiple attacks and changed hands many times between conquerors. It was also a hotbed of early Christian evangelism and remains an important archaeological site and Christian pilgrimage destination.

 

The first establishment of the ancient city of Ephesus, which is within the boundaries of the Selcuk district of Izmir province, dates back to 6000 BC. In recent research and excavations, on the mounds around the Ephesus ( prehistoric settlements on hills ) and on the Ayasuluk Hill where the castle is located, settlements belonging to the Bronze Ages and the to the Hittites were idenfied. In the Hittites period , the name of the city was Apasas. The city of Ephesus, where also the immigrants from Greece came to live in 1050 BC, was moved to the vicinity of the Temple of Artemis in 560 BC. Ephesus, which is visited today, was founded by Lysimakhos , one of the generals of Alexander the Great in 300 BC. Living its most glorious times during Helllenistic and Roman times, Ephesus had a population of 200,000 people as the capital and largest port city of the Asian province. Ephesus was relocated in the Byzantine period and came to Ayasuluk Hill in Selcuk where it was established first.

 

If you are planning a trip to Turkey, Is the archaeological site of Ephesus worth visiting ? Our answer is A resounding YES! 

 

Few places in the world feel as immersive as Ephesus, Turkey.

 

TEMPLE OF ARTEMIS 

The Temple of Artemis (also known as the Temple of Diana by the Romans) was a Greek temple located in the ancient city of Ephesus. As well as a great port city, Ephesus, was once a religious center in the ancient world. Now called Selcuk, it was located about 35 miles (56 kilometers) south of modern-day Izmir, Turkey. The temple once served as a cultic place of worship for the Greek goddess Artemis, goddess of fertility, the earth, the moon, and the animals.  Most of the descriptions of the original Temple of Artemis comes from the Roman historian Pliny the Elder (23 – 79 AD). He described the temple as a "wonderful monument of Grecian magnificence, and one that merits our genuine admiration." Pliny documented its exact proportions, how long the temples took to build and the material used during construction. The foundation of the temple was rectangular in form and measured 150 feet in width (45.7 meters) and 300 feet in length (91.4 meters). It was built on a podium with 13 steps leading up to the high terrace. There were 127 columns total, each 20m high (65.6 feet), with Ionic capitals and carved circular sides. Unlike other sanctuaries, the building was made entirely of marble.

There is no protection around the temple. Visitors see only a column  which has been re-erected by the Austrian Archaeologists. It is a spiritually important site.

 

The famous Greek historian Herodotus wrote of seven great architectural achievements. And although his writings did not survive, he planted seeds for what has become the list of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

 

ST. VIRGIN MARY’S HOUSE

Virgin Mary House is located on the Bülbül Mountain, 9 km from Selçuk. It is known that John brought Virgin Mary to Ephesus 4 or 6 years after the death of Jesus. In 1891, the Lazarist priests, upon the dream of the German nun A. Katherina Emerich, discovered that the house where the Virgin Mary spent her last days was at the end of this research. This event is a new invention in the world of Christianity and shed light on the world of religion. This structure was cross-planned then restored. The house is considered sacred by Muslims, Pope VI. After Paul's visit in 1967, the rites are held on the 15th day of August every year, and these rituals attract great attention.

 

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