Ephesus / Efeze (Selcuk)

Ruiins of Ephesus:

Perhaps the most famous building of the ruined city of Ephesus is the library of Celsus. This beautiful structure, which still stands for a large part and gives you a good idea of what it once had to look like in full glory, was built by the son of the Roman governor in the 2nd century BC. in honor of his father who had just passed away.

In addition to being the tomb of the old governor, some 12,000 book rolls were stored here in niches in the wall. A gap of between 1 and 2 meters was kept between the outer and inner walls to protect the paper from the humidity and temperature outside. The big theater is at the end of the harbor street and is a Roman reconstruction - it is a partly Roman and partly Greek theater where 25.000 visitors could take place. The rows of chairs were built steeper the more you go to the top, which improved the acoustics and visibility of the viewers. The Romans would improve and expand the old theater and the theater is still used today. From the top places you have a view of the "salinated" harbor, the polluted street and the old city of the Greeks. 

Along the road of Curetes you first come across the impressive temple of former Hadrian. Opposite the temple of this great Roman Emperor are the terrace houses of Ephesus; after Pompeii the best preserved Roman houses in the world where you can see how the "rich & famous" lived in those days. These two-storey houses are the houses totally covered with frescoes and the floors in mosaic. Furthermore, you have the gymnasium and a stadium with Roman baths, toilets, a ceremony hall, a swimming pool and practice fields. You can visit a church, the center of the activities; the agora (market square) and the Holy road that led to it. Fountains, an Odeon where small musicals were held, bathhouses, gates and walls.

Ephesus, which was then still on the Ionian Sea, was founded by Greek colonists on the northern slopes of Mount Pion. It was a city of prosperity in the 6th century BC and was about a kilometer away from where later the temple of Artemis was built. In the year 560 BC. the growing city was easily conquered by King "Croesus" of Lydia, because the city had not created defensive walls.

The King destroyed the city and moved it south of the un-destroyed temple and was forced to pay taxes. When the city came under Persian rule it would take part in the Ionian uprising and in 415 BC. it would deliver soldiers for the fight to the Greek city of Sparta. In 356 BC. the first temple of "Artemis" was destroyed in a fire and was started on a second - one that would be considered one of the seven wonders of the world. Its construction was well on its way when Alexander the Great captured the area and was very impressed with the prosperous city and temple.

Alexander would offer to pay the cost of the temple if it were named after him - the builders did not go that far. When Alexander died, the region including Ephesus became part of the property of one of his generals (Lysimachus). Because the harbor was silting, he would be the one who forced the inhabitants to move westward and build a new city there. A large defensive wall was built around the once again very prosperous city, and it became even greater when citizens from other cities were deported to live here. Ephesus would come to different parties through the centuries before the Romans arrived and finally to the Roman Empire itself (133 BC). 

The Roman Ephesus became the capital of Little Asia because of its busy seaport, trade routes and its sanctuaries; his population would increase to a quarter of a million. Apostle John would live here for 3 years and write two Bible books; Paul's letter to the Ephesians and Acts of the Apostles. Also goes the legend that the Holy virgin Mary would have lived here.

The big one was destroyed in 262 and robbed by the Goths and the city became in a downward spiral in the following centuries. The greatest culprit was once again the salty port - the port was rebuilt, dug empty, but there was no escape. In the 7th century AD. When Emperor Justianian visited the city and looked for a suitable place to build a basilica for Apostle John, it was decided to build it a bit inland, where the present Selcuk is located.