The archaeological site of Ephesus is 3 km (2 miles)
southwest of the town of Selçuk which has its own guide
with practical information and a photo gallery, including
photos of the Selçuk Ephesus Archaeological Museum.
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Detailed information about Ephesus' sights can be found
with the photos in our Ephesus photo gallery.
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Ephesus was an ancient city founded by Ionian Greeks who arrived on the west coast of Anatolia around 1000 BC. This region thus became known as Ionia during the Classical Greek period. Ephesus grew into an important commercial port, a religious centre for the cult of Artemis, and one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League.
The area has been inhabited since the Neolithic Age (about 6000 BC), and archaeological finds at the Ayasuluk Citadel (see the Selçuk photo gallery for further information) reveal that it was already settled during the Bronze Age (e.g. during the Mycenaean era, 1500 - 1400 BC) long before the Ionians arrived here.
The city was famed for the Temple of Artemis (see information and photos of the ruins of the temple in the Selçuk photo gallery), one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The first great temple was completed in 550 BC, and the second even more magnificent temple was finished in the early 3rd century BC. Destroyed and rebuilt several times, its final destruction was by a Christian a mob incited by Saint John Chrysostom in 401 AD. Emperor Constantine I rebuilt much of the city, including new public baths. The town was again partially destroyed by an earthquake in 614 AD.
The Romans brought their own gods, and even deified their emperors. But Artemis was still worshipped into Byzantine times. The Romans also enlarged the city's Great Theatre, though its main use switched from drama to brutal games with wild beasts versus prisoners and gladiatorial duels, which explains the site of a large gladiators' graveyard. Other architectural gems of the Roman era include the Odeion (2nd century AD), the Temple of Hadrian (130 AD) and the Library of Celcus (135 AD).
From the beginning of the Christian era Ephesus became an important spiritual centre from where the new religion was spread, and later a place of pilgrimage. The Virgin Mary and Saint John the Evangelist are said to have lived here, and Saint John is thought to have written the Gospel of John and finally died here (see further information and photos of the Basilica of Saint John in the Selçuk photo gallery). Saint Paul the Apostle also lived and may have been imprisoned here. Ephesus was one of the seven churches of Asia addressed in the Book of Revelation, written by Saint John of Patmos (see our pages on Patmos, Greece).
Ephesus's importance declined as the harbour was gradually silted up by the River Cayster (Küçük Menderes), until it was finally abandoned. Other cities of the Greek world shared a similar fate (e.g. Pella in Macedonia, Greece). It is partly because they were abandonded and forgotten (and also preserved in silt), that some of their buildings have survived the centuries, despite being plundered continually, especially for building material. For over a century archaeologists have continued to unearth ever more of Ephesus' history and treasures, and reconstruct many of its buildings. It has been estimated that so far a mere 15% has been excavated, which means that the ancient city could still be hiding many surprises.
Many of the artifacts from Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis discovered by British and Austrian archaeologists in the 19th and early 20th centuries are now in the British Musem, London and the Ephesos Museum, Vienna.
We are working on further background and practical information about Ephesus, which should be online by Spring 2010. Meanwhile, detailed information about Ephesus' sights can be found with the photos in our Ephesus photo gallery.
Text and photos: © David John 2004 - 2010
Some of the information and photos in this guide to Ephesus originally appeared in 2004-2005 on davidjohnberlin.com. |
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| Ephesus, Turkey |
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area map |
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map of Aegean area and western Turkey
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The archaeological site of Ephesus lies 3 kilometers (2 miles) southwest of the town of Selçuk, in the Selçuk district of İzmir Province, Turkey.
Further local information for the Ephesus area, can be found on the main page of the guide to Selçuk.
Further information for Turkey, including visa details, can be found on the main page introduction to Turkey.
Text, maps and photos: © David John 2004 - 2010
Some of the information and photos in this guide to Ephesus originally appeared in 2004 on davidjohnberlin.com. |
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