Antique hilt. The ancient city of Ephesus in Turkey: description and history What to bring from Ephesus

Perhaps the most popular and visited, after the beauties of Istanbul, historical place Turkey is the ancient city of Ephesus. Concurrently, it is also the largest preserved historical site in Asia Minor - the area of the restored territory is more than 10,000 m2. Currently, this place is visited annually by hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world and its popularity does not fade. Everyone wants to touch history and feel the breath of antiquity.

Ephesus is located a couple of kilometers from the town of Selcuk in the province of Aydin. You can get to it yourself by bus from Kusadasi or Izmir. Although, as a rule, this is not necessary - to Ephesus are organized by absolutely all tour operators and travel agencies in Turkey. In addition, in order to at least roughly navigate the place without the help of a professional tour guide, you need to read quite a lot of special historical literature, so it’s best to purchase separately.

The legend of the founding of Ephesus

There is a very beautiful legend about the circumstances under which this city was founded. A long time ago, more than three thousand years ago, the son of the last Athenian ruler Codra Androcles decided to found his own kingdom and received a prophecy from the Delphic Oracle about the possibility of founding new town where fire, fish and wild boar unite at the same time. He set sail, and when he reached Anatolia, he landed on the most picturesque shore. There was a small fishing village nearby, and not far from the shore the villagers were frying fish. Tired travelers were invited to share a meal. When a gust of wind carried the sparks from the fire towards the neighboring bushes, a wild boar jumped out squealing. Then Androcles realized that he had found the right place.

However, not everything was so simple, and the newly created colony did not flourish for long. In those places, great damage was caused to cities and tribes by a nomadic tribe of warlike Amazons. Stories about fearless women warriors have long excited the inhabitants of Hellas. But the brave Androcles did not give in - he was able to seduce the leader of the Amazons, the beautiful Ephesia. Together they founded great city, which the young king named after his beloved. Many colonists also took former warriors as wives, and those who did not want to part with their saddle and weapons became the royal bodyguards or priestesses of Artemis.

Variations and excerpts from this legend were widely used by artists, sculptors and poets throughout the ancient period. And it is not possible to judge what is true and what is fiction. Disputes about the time and place of the founding of Ephesus are still going on.

The fact remains undeniable that Ephesus grew from a small colony into largest port city, which has long prospered through shipping and trade.

Temple of Artemis of Ephesus

The hallmark of Ephesus is considered to be the almost completely lost temple of the goddess Artemis - one of the seven wonders of the world. The cult of Artemis, according to legend, was widely practiced by the mythical founder of the city, King Androcles. He built the first temple on the site of the future wonder of the world. However, due to constant destructive wars, the sanctuary was destroyed and rebuilt several times. As it turns out, this is the permanent fate of this legendary structure.

The last, and most important, reconstruction was sponsored by the Lydian rich man - King Croesus (in the 6th century BC). The best architects of that time worked on the construction of the temple; the construction itself lasted a hundred years and ended with a triumphant celebration in honor of the opening of the temple. Its decoration was amazing, and a special decoration was the famous colonnade of 127 columns, each of which was a gift from the Hellenic king. The large statue of Artemis was made of gold and ivory. However, the temple in original form did not last even two hundred years - in 356 BC. e. it was burned by the madman Herostratus. By order of Alexander the Great, the temple was rebuilt by the beginning of the 3rd century BC. and became even more beautiful, but this time it did not last long. Unfortunately, after all the cataclysms and robberies, only one single column and part of the foundation remained from the colossal structure. A model of the lost wonder of the world can be seen in Turkish national museum Miniature.

Main attractions of Ephesus

The most popular and iconic landmark of Ephesus, its symbol and key image, is without a doubt the Library of Celsus. It was built at the beginning of the Roman period during the reign of Emperor Hadrian. It must be said that this emperor, like no other, left a big mark on the cultural and architectural history of Asia Minor.

Tiberius Julius Aquila began building the library for his father Tiberius Julius Celsius in 114. Unfortunately, he never managed to complete the construction during his lifetime, but bequeathed a large sum of money for its continuation, the purchase of books and the further maintenance of the library. The heirs carried out the will of Aquila and the library opened in 135. At one time, more than 12,000 scrolls were kept there, making it the second largest in the world after Alexandria.

Celsius himself was a very famous and educated man in Ephesus, he did a lot for the development and prosperity of the city. Therefore, despite the state ban on burying the dead within the city, he was buried in a marble sarcophagus on the first floor of the library.

150 years later, the library building was almost completely destroyed by fire. However, the marble façade was well preserved and was restored after excavations.

Another iconic landmark of Ephesus that has survived to this day is the huge ancient theater with 25,000 seats. Gladiator fights were held here during the day, and performances and musical performances were held in the evenings. By and large, many public places and administrative buildings are perfectly preserved ancient city. In addition to the aforementioned library and theater, you can see the meeting area - the agora, the small amphitheater - the odeon, the ancient town hall - the prytanium, the temple of Emperor Hadrian, the temple of the goddess Hestia and the Basilica of St. John. Also, the main street of the city and some residential buildings have undergone few changes.

House of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus

Not far from Ephesus on Mount Panair there is another unique place that tourists are eager to visit. History says that after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, when persecution began in Jerusalem, the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist moved to Ephesus. The Virgin Mary settled in a house not far from the city, and John began to preach, as he had been bequeathed. Here she lived until her Assumption, before which she returned back to Jerusalem.

Since ancient times, on the slopes of Mount Panair, residents revered a holy spring, the purest water of which could heal diseases. At the end of the 19th century, during excavations near the spring, the remains of a residential building and hearths were discovered, subsequently dating back to the 1st century AD. e. Now a Catholic chapel stands on this site and pilgrims from all over the world flock here all year round: from Spain, Italy, Mexico, Brazil, France and other countries. On the territory of the chapel you can buy religious paraphernalia with the image of the Virgin Mary, draw holy water from the source and make a cherished wish by tying a ribbon on the wishing wall.

Despite the fact that the Vatican did not officially recognize this place as the home of the Virgin Mary, some popes still visited it.

Decline of Ephesus and hope for the future

At its height, Ephesus was one of the 12 largest cities on the territory of Asia Minor of the Ionian period, its population reached 200 thousand people, which in those days equated the city to a metropolis. However, after a strong earthquake, the sea receded, the harbor became shallow and turned into swamps, and the city itself had to be moved to the mountain. After this, Ephesus was no longer able to regain its former greatness and gradually turned into an abandoned village. The constant wars between the Hellenic peoples and a series of imperial conquests brought him a lot of destruction.

Despite the fact that excavations and restoration work have been going on for many years, scientists believe that more than 50% of the territory of the ancient city still remains underground and swamps. Who knows, it is quite possible that great discoveries and new ones await us. historical facts about this wonderful city.

Ancient city Ephesus (Turkey) is located in the western part of the Asia Minor Peninsula, also known by its Greek name Antalya. By modern standards it is small - its population barely reaches 225 thousand people. However, thanks to its history and the monuments preserved in it from past centuries, it is one of the most visited cities in the world by tourists.

City of the Fertility Goddess

In ancient times, it was founded by the Greeks in the 11th century BC. e., the city was famous for the cult of the local who flourished here, who eventually incarnated herself as the goddess of fertility Artemis. This generous and hospitable celestial woman in the 6th century BC. e. residents of the city built a temple, recognized as one of

The city of Ephesus reached unprecedented prosperity in the 6th century BC. e., when it came under the rule of the Lydian king Croesus, who captured it, whose name in modern language has become synonymous with wealth. This ruler, immersed in luxury, spared no expense and decorated his temples with new sculptures, and acted as a patron of science and art. Under him, the city was glorified by many outstanding personalities, such as the ancient philosopher Heraclitus and the ancient poet Kallin.

City life in the first centuries AD

However, the peak of the city’s development occurred in the 1st-2nd centuries AD. e. During this period, it was part of the Roman Empire, and a lot of money was spent on its improvement, thanks to which aqueducts, the library of Celsus, thermal baths - ancient baths were built, and also rebuilt. One of the many city attractions was its main street, descending to the port and decorated columns and porticoes. It was named after the Roman Emperor Arcadius.

The city of Ephesus is mentioned several times in the New Testament, in particular in the books "The Acts of the Apostles" and "The Revelations of John the Evangelist", also known as the "Apocalypse". The first followers of Christ began to appear in it during the period of the Savior’s earthly ministry, and in 52-54 the Apostle Paul lived and preached the word of God in the city. Researchers also have reason to believe that the man who died and was buried in Ephesus wrote his Gospel here. Sacred Tradition connects this city with the last years of the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary - the Mother of Jesus Christ.

The sea that left the city

At the founding of Ephesus, the city of Artemis, it was founded on the shores of the Aegean Sea and was the largest port center of antiquity. But then the unexpected happened - either the goddess quarreled with the supreme ruler Zeus, and he poured out his anger on the city, or the reasons were of a natural order, but only in the 6th century AD. e. the harbor suddenly became shallow and overgrown with silt.

Residents had to move their homes to a new location, located near the current Turkish city of Selcuk, starting construction on Ayasoluk Hill. But the sea still continued to recede, depriving this ancient city of most of its income. Ephesus gradually fell into decay. Landslides and earthquakes completed the job, covering its ruins with sand and reliably preserving it for future archaeologists.

Forgotten ancient monument

The job was completed by the Arabs, who in the 7th century increased their raids and finally destroyed what the hand of the blind elements had not yet reached. Seven centuries later, the Ottoman Empire captured a large part of Asia Minor, including the territory where the city of Ayasoluk, neighboring Ephesus, was located.

From that time on, it began to develop, but within the framework of the Islamic tradition. Mosques, caravanserais and Turkish baths appeared on its streets. Another hundred years later the city was renamed, and it received its current name Selchuk, and the city of Ephesus was completely abandoned and fell asleep for several centuries under a layer of sand blown here by the hot wind.

Excavations of an enthusiastic archaeologist

Story archaeological excavations on the territory of the ancient city originates in 1863. Their initiator was the British engineer and architect John Turtle Wood, who designed buildings in Turkey railway stations. Having set out to find the Ephesus mentioned in the New Testament, he received permission from the local authorities to carry out the work.

The task was not an easy one, because the only information he had was information about where the city of Ephesus was located, but he did not have any specific information about its layout and buildings.

A city that has risen from oblivion

Three years later, the first reports of John Wood's discoveries spread around the world, and from that time on, the city of Ephesus, where outstanding monuments of Hellenic culture were created in previous centuries, attracted everyone's attention.

To this day, the city has preserved many unique monuments dating back to the Roman period of its history. Even though much remains to be unearthed, what appears today is striking in its magnificence and provides an opportunity to imagine the grandeur and splendor of this city in its heyday.

The theater and the Marble Street leading to it

One of the main attractions of Ephesus is the ruins of its theater, built in the Hellenic period, but which underwent significant reconstruction during the reign of the Roman emperors Domitian and his successor Trajan. This truly grandiose structure could accommodate twenty-five thousand spectators, and more than late period was part of the city wall.

Anyone who entered the City of Ephesus by sea could proceed from the port to the theater along a four-hundred-meter street lined with marble slabs. The trading shops that stood on its sides alternated with statues of ancient gods and ancient heroes, striking the eyes of visitors with their perfection. By the way, the residents of the city were not only aesthetes, but also quite practical people - during excavations under the street they discovered a fairly developed sewage system.

Library - a gift from the Roman Emperor

Among other cultural centers of the ancient world, the city of Ephesus was also known for its library, which received the name of Celsus Polemean, the father of the Roman emperor Titus Julius, who built it in memory of him and installed his sarcophagus in one of the halls. It should be noted that the burial of the dead in public buildings was extremely a rare occurrence, and was allowed only in cases of special merit of the deceased.

The fragments of the building that have survived to this day are part of the facade, richly decorated with allegorical figures placed in niches. At one time, the collection of the Celsus library included twelve thousand scrolls, stored not only in cabinets and shelves, but also right on the floor of its vast halls.

Temple guarded by Medusa the Gorgon

In addition to the Temple of Artemis, which appeared in ancient times business card city, many more religious buildings were built in Ephesus. One of them is the Sanctuary of Hadrian, the ruins of which can be seen when turning off Marble Street. Its construction dates back to 138 AD. e. From the former splendor of this pagan temple only a few surviving fragments remain.

Among them are four Corinthian columns supporting a triangular pediment with a semicircular arch in the middle. Inside the temple you can see a bas-relief of the Gorgon Medusa guarding the temple, and on the opposite wall there are images of various ancient gods, one way or another connected with the founding of the city. Previously, there were also statues of very real rulers of the world - the Roman emperors Maximian, Diocletian and Gallery, but today they have become exhibits of the city museum.

The area of the richest residents of the city of Ephesus

The history of the city during the period of Roman rule was immortalized in a sculptural complex built near the entrance to the Temple of Hadrian, surrounding the Fountain of Trojan. In the center of the composition stood a marble statue of this emperor, from which a stream of water rose to the sky. Around her, in respectful poses, were statues of the immortal inhabitants of Olympus. Today these sculptures also decorate museum halls.

Opposite the Temple of Hadrian there were houses in which a select part of Ephesian society lived. In modern terms, it was an elite quarter. Situated on a hillside, the buildings were designed in such a way that the roof of each served as an open terrace for the neighboring one located a level below. The perfectly preserved mosaic that lined the sidewalk in front of the houses gives an idea of the luxury in which their inhabitants lived.

The buildings themselves were richly decorated with frescoes and various sculptural images, some of which have survived to this day. Their subjects included, in addition to the traditional ancient deities in such cases, also images of outstanding people of the past. For example, one of them depicts the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates.

Christian shrines of the city

In this city, monuments of ancient paganism and the Christian culture that replaced it miraculously coexist side by side, one of which is Ioanna. In the 6th century, Emperor Justinian I ordered its construction on the spot where the holy apostle, the author of the Apocalypse, as well as one of the Gospels, was supposedly buried.

But the main Christian shrine of Ephesus, undoubtedly, is the house in which, according to legend, she spent her life last years The Mother of Jesus Christ is the Blessed Virgin Mary. As the legend says, already on the Cross the Savior entrusted the care of Her to his beloved disciple, the Apostle John, and he, sacredly keeping the Teacher’s order, transported her to his home in Ephesus.

There is also a very beautiful legend associated with one of the caves located on the slope of a nearby mountain. According to popular belief, during the days of persecution of Christianity, seven young men who professed the true faith were saved in it. To protect them from imminent death, the Lord sent them into a deep sleep, in which they spent two centuries. Young Christians awakened and were already in complete safety - their faith had by that time become the state religion.

If you have long dreamed of visiting the ruins of an ancient metropolis and feeling the ancient atmosphere, then it’s time to go to the historical complex of Ephesus, Turkey. The unique city-museum, listed as a UNESCO heritage site, annually attracts travelers from all over the world. The Temple of Artemis, the Library of Celsus, the House of the Virgin Mary are just a small part of what awaits you in this cradle of antiquity. What Ephesus is and what attractions are located on its territory, we consider in our article.

General information

The ancient city of Ephesus is located in western Turkey, 7 km from the coast of the Aegean Sea and 80 km south of Izmir. It is a historical complex of ancient buildings, spread out over an area of 4.15 square meters. km. For the most part, Ephesus gained fame thanks to the cult of the fertility goddess Artemis, in whose honor a temple was built in the city, later ranked as one of the seven wonders of the world.

Today, the closest settlements to Ephesus are the town of Selcuk, located 3 km to the east, and the resort of Kusadasi, located 17 km to the southwest. The historical complex is considered one of the most valuable attractions in Turkey, visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. And to make your acquaintance with Ephesus more exciting and educational, let’s take a moment to plunge into its rich history.

Historical reference

Artemis of Ephesus

The ancient city of Ephesus in Turkey is located on territory where the first settlements appeared in the Neolithic era, i.e. around the ninth millennium BC. The metropolis itself was founded in the 10th century BC. According to legend, its creator was the son of the Athenian ruler Androcles, who fell in love during urban planning with an Amazon from the local tribes named Ephesia. In her honor, as the legend says, the city was named. It is noteworthy that initially Ephesus was located on the shores of the Aegean Sea, but over the centuries the coast dried up, and the ancient metropolis itself went deep into the mainland.

Alexander the Great

Thanks to his geographical location Ephesus quickly became an important port and shopping mall, becoming a real tasty morsel for conquerors from different parts of the world. In the 6th century BC. the Lydians ruled here, later overthrown by the Persians, who in turn were ousted by the troops of Alexander the Great. During the heyday of the Roman Empire, the city passed to the Romans and was under their protection until the middle of the 3rd century, when the Goths invaded and plundered Ephesus, leading it to absolute decline.

It was possible to restore the glorious city during the period of Byzantine rule. At the turn of the 5th-6th centuries. Ephesus became the second most important metropolis of the empire after Constantinople. The Byzantines rebuilt the city and actively used it for trade purposes. But in the 7th century, the coast of Ephesus began to dry out and gradually filled with silt, which led to the loss of access to the Aegean Sea. As a result, trade completely disappeared, and the city itself lost all significance for the Byzantine Empire.

Isa Bey Mosque

During the formative period Ottoman Empire Ephesus briefly regained its status as a thriving metropolis. The Seljuks who came here built new baths, mosques and caravanserais on the territory. However, in the 15th century, the nearby city of Ayasoluk (modern Selçuk) assumed greater importance for the Ottomans, and Ephesus was finally abandoned.

What can be seen on the territory of Ephesus today

Even with a fleeting glance at photos of the sights of Ephesus in Turkey, you can understand the scale of this historical complex. In addition to the well-known Temple of Artemis, there are unique monuments of antiquity here, many of which have been preserved in excellent condition. What can you see on the territory of modern Ephesus?

Temple of Artemis

Of course, we will begin our description with one of the seven wonders of the world in Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis, from which today, unfortunately, practically nothing remains. The structure was erected in the 6th century BC. in honor of the goddess of fertility and patroness of all life on earth - Artemis. It took about 120 years to build the temple. In those distant times, it was a majestic structure with 127 columns, each 18 m in height. The length of the temple reached 110 m, and the width - 55 m.

However, this wonder of the world was not destined to live long. Already in the 4th century BC. A madman named Herostratus set fire to the Temple of Artemis. As a result, the main part of the structure burned down, of which only the columns remained. Later, Herostratus explained his action by the desire to write himself into the annals of history, after which he was executed, and his name was forbidden to be mentioned in chronicles. During his reign, Alexander the Great tried to restore the temple, but it was soon destroyed by the Goths, and subsequently the sanctuary of Artemis finally fell into disrepair.

Modern photographs of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus confirm the fact that it was built on a swamp. That is why the building literally disappeared from the face of the earth, drowning in the abyss over the centuries. Today, all that remains of the building is one dilapidated column, bored in the middle of the swamp, and a couple of stone blocks in the area. A miniature copy of the Temple of Artemis can be seen in the Istanbul miniature park, but it is unlikely to be able to at least partially convey the grandeur of the structure that has sunk into oblivion.

House of the Virgin Mary

In addition to the Temple of Artemis, Ephesus is home to another historically important landmark - the House of the Virgin Mary. According to the Catholic version, after the ascension of Christ, the Mother of God remained to live in Jerusalem, where she preached Christianity. But there is another version, which says that the Virgin Mary spent her last years of life (about 9 years) in Ephesus. Such information arose as a result of testimonies from a number of local residents, as well as on the basis of a vision that appeared to the German nun A. K. Emmerich at the end of the 19th century.

Today, the house of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus is a miniature building, inside of which a small basement has been preserved. In the middle of the last century, the building was renovated, and within its walls there was a chapel where believers from all over the world come to pray. Despite the fact that it is official Catholic Church rejects the version that the Mother of God lived in Ephesus; over the past half century, three Roman popes have already visited here.

After visiting the house of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus, be sure to check out the Bolshoi Theater and the Odeon, which have reached us in excellent condition. The grandiose three-tier structure in the form of an ancient Roman amphitheater once accommodated up to 25 thousand spectators, and its upper rows were at a height of 30 m. Today, the height of the building reaches only 18 m, and in total there are 66 rows. In ancient times, the stage of the theater was decorated with carved columns and skillful sculptures, which, unfortunately, have not survived to this day.

Odeon

In Ephesus there is another theater of a much smaller scale, but no less interesting - the Odeon. It is designed for 1,500 seats and is a two-tier semicircular structure, divided into four sections, cut off from each other by staircases. Typically, in ancient times, buildings of this type were used for singing events, but this theater primarily served for meetings of the Senate, during the breaks between which theatrical performances were held here.

Among the attractions of Ephesus, the ruins of an outstanding architectural monument from the era of the Roman Empire deserve special attention. This is the Library of Celsus, built in the early 2nd century during the heyday of Rome. The author of the structure was the architect Tiberius Julius Aquila, who named it in honor of the highly educated statesman Celsus, who was his father. The library was not only a repository for more than 12 thousand scrolls, but also the tomb of Celsus himself. During excavations carried out in Ephesus at the beginning of the 20th century, archaeologists managed to find a marble tomb containing the remains of a once famous Roman.

But, like the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, the Library of Celsus did not survive to this day due to the invasion of the merciless Goths, who burned the building almost to the ground. Only the façade remained of the building, but it was also destroyed as a result of an earthquake during the Byzantine Empire. The remains of the library that we see today are only a reconstruction of the building, which was reconstructed from the surviving ruins. Currently, here you can see a two-story facade with columns, the space between which is decorated with four sculptures of women symbolizing Virtue, Wisdom, Knowledge and Thought. But these statues are only copies, and the originals are now kept in the Vienna Museum.

Other attractions

Among other attractions of Ephesus in Turkey it is worth highlighting:

Temple of Hadrian

Basilica of St. John the Evangelist, built in Byzantine times
The ruins of the ancient Agora - a market square once decorated with colonnades
Temple of Domitian, in ancient times decorated with 21 columns and sculptures, of which only ruins remain today
Terraced houses are the former homes of wealthy townspeople: their peculiarity was that each house served as a terrace for the next; Many buildings still have frescoes and mosaic floors.
Temple of Hadrian, built in honor of the Roman emperor and at one time decorated with colonnades, arches and sculptures of other rulers
Kuretov Street, once paved with marble and decorated with statues and columns

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Opening hours and ticket prices

The historical site of Ephesus in Turkey is open daily. From April 15 to October 2, the attraction is open from 8:00 to 18:30, from October 3 to April 14 - from 8:00 to 17:00. The entrance ticket price in 2018 is 10 $ (40 TL). If you are a museum card holder, admission is free.

A visit to the terraced houses, St. John's Basilica and the Archaeological Museum is paid separately: the ticket price, depending on the attraction, ranges from 2 to 3 $ (5-10 TL). You can also purchase an audio guide in Russian for $5 (20 TL). Entry tickets sold at cash registers and self-service terminals.

Gate of Hercules

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How to get to Ephesus

Getting to the city of Ephesus in Turkey is most convenient from nearby settlements– the towns of Selcuk and Kusadasi. Ephesus is located 3 km west of Selcuk, and can be reached by dolmus from the city bus station. Travel time takes no more than 10 minutes. The cost of the trip is $0.6 (2.5 TL).

If you are staying in Turkey at the resort of Kusadasi, located 17 km southeast of Ephesus, then the road to the complex will take you about half an hour. You can get to the ancient city by dolmus, following the Kusadasi-Selcuk route, which departs from the city bus station several times an hour. The fare is 1.2 $ (5 TL). In this case, you need to warn the driver that you are going to Ephesus, and get off the dolmus at the turn with the sign “Efes”. Next, you just have to cover 1 km along a straight road to the complex.

Of course, you can get to the ancient city by taxi, rented car, or book a tour with a guide. But all these options are much more expensive. Although only you can decide which ways to get to the city of Ephesus, Turkey will be most suitable for you.

Legend about the founding of the city

During excavations in recent years, settlements of the Early Bronze Age were found near Ayazuluk Hill. In 1954, not far from the ruins of the Basilica of St. John, a cemetery from the Mycenaean era (1500-1400 BC) was found. Among the finds were ceramics.

Judging by Hittite sources, the city was called Apasha (Apasa), from where the later "Ephesus" comes, and was briefly the capital of the confederation or kingdom of Arzawa, hostile to the Hittites and allied to the Achaeans.

During the Post-Hittite Bronze Age, Ephesus was the capital of a small Carian state, then settled by Ionian Greeks from Athens.

Hellenic period

In the 10th century BC. e. on Ayazuluk hill, three kilometers from the center ancient Ephesus, a Greek colony was established, as confirmed by 1990s excavations at Selçuk Castle. Around 650 BC. e. Ephesus was attacked and destroyed by the Cimmerians. The Temple of Artemis was also destroyed. The Ephesus Archaeological Museum contains several Cimmerian finds.

After the expulsion of the Cimmerians, tyranny established in the city. The following tyrants from the Basilid family (sometimes called kings) are known:

Melas I - married to King Lydia's sister Gyges
Miletus - married to the king's sister Lydia Sadiatta
Pythagoras - briefly seized power around 600 BC. e. and apparently did not belong to the Basilid family
Melas II - married to King Lydia's daughter Aliatta III
Pindar - son of Melas II, ruled until the conquest of the city by the Lydian king Croesus (c. 560 BC)
Melas III - son of Pindar, protege of the Lydian king Croesus, reigned until 555 BC. e.
Aristarchus - reigned from 555 BC. e.
Athenagoras - ruled as a vassal of the Persians
Comas - ruled as a vassal of the Persians
Melancom - ruled as a vassal of the Persians, con. V century BC e.

Periodically, during uprisings, the city tried to free itself from tyranny and power passed to a council called Curet. The city flourished, and the work of such notable people as Callinus (elegiac poet), Hipponax (satirist), Heraclitus (philosopher), Parrhasius (painter), Zenodotus (philologist and poet), physicists Soranus of Ephesus and Rufus dates back to this time.

In 394 BC. e. The Ephesians took part in the campaign of Conon, who overthrew the hegemony of Sparta. According to the Antalcidian world in 387 BC. e. Ephesus again recognized the power of Persia. The city then fell under the rule of the tyrant Sirfax.

The revolt in Ephesus, which began after the treacherous murder of Agathocles, son of Lysimachus, gave Seleucus I Nicator, another general of Alexander the Great and founder of the Seleucid dynasty, the chance to eliminate his rival and subjugate Asia Minor. Lysimachus died at the Battle of Kouroupedion in 281 BC. e., after which the city became part of the Seleucid state and again began to be called Ephesus. However, already in 263 BC. e. Ephesus was captured by Pharaoh Ptolemy III and until 197 BC. e. was under Egyptian rule.

Christianity in Ephesus

Since the 50s AD. e. Ephesus is an important center of early Christianity. In 52-54. The Apostle Paul lived here, engaged in missionary work. The Apostle John also lived here, and perhaps it was here that he wrote his Gospel. He is buried in the church named after him [ source?] . Ephesus was also one of the seven cities mentioned in the Revelation of John the Theologian (2:1). The Apostle John could not be buried in Ephesus, since he spent the last days of his life in exile on the island of Patmos, where, according to legend, he was buried alive, and when the grave was dug up a few days later, his body was not found.

According to some medieval legends, the Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, lived her last years in this city. The world's first church, consecrated in the name of the Mother of God, was built here. The stories about the seven sleeping youths and the life of Lazarus of Galicia are associated with this area.

A council was convened at Ephesus in 431 to decide whether Jesus was only divine or also human. “On this issue the church split: roughly speaking, the bishops east of Suez supported Nestorius, and the bishops west of Suez supported St. Cyril... The Western bishops appeared first, locked the doors for latecomers and hastily made a decision in favor of St. Kirill, who presided over the meetings of the council. "Third Ecumenical Council

House of the Virgin Mary

During His crucifixion, Jesus Christ commanded His Mother to take care of John as her own son, and John to take care of Mary as her own mother. Since the apostles divided the territories among themselves for the spread of Christianity, and the territory of Asia Minor went to John, he settled the Virgin Mary in Ephesus, where She lived the last years of her life.

Currently, in this area (7 km from the city) there is a small church, which is a place of pilgrimage for Christians. Muslims in these places also treat it with deep respect as a shrine. A spring has also been preserved, the water from which is healing. Near it there is a wish wall, where everyone can make a wish by attaching a knot of any material to specially installed bars.

Population

5,000 people ± 200 people.

Notable residents and natives:

Kallin (elegiac poet)
Hipponax (satirist)
Heraclitus (philosopher)
Parrhasius (artist)
Zenodotus (philologist and poet)

Attractions

There are many archaeological sites preserved in Ephesus. The city is especially rich in monuments from the Roman era; among the cities of the eastern Mediterranean there are the most of them. Not everything has been excavated yet, but what can be seen gives some idea of the former splendor of the city.

Celsus Library

Odeon

The semicircular structure, also known as the Small Theater, stands on the hillside, north of the Agora. Judging by the inscription, it was built in 150 AD. e. Publius Vedius Antony. The original purpose of the odeon was the bouleuterium - the meeting place of the city Senate. The first indoor building, designed for 1,400 seats, was used alternately: either for meetings of the Senate or for theatrical performances. The architectural design of the odeon is similar to classical models:

the auditorium with its two-tiered semicircle of rows, divided into four main sectors by staircases;
the design of the proscenium suggests that the structure was intended for meetings of the Senate rather than for theatrical performances.

Agora

The ruins of the Agora are Romanesque structures from the Roman Empire period, most likely built during the reigns of the emperors Augustus and Claudius. The agora, which was finally built up under Theodosius (IV century), was decorated with a double colonnade of a portico, under which were located shopping arcades. It was a center of trading activity, where merchants from all over the Empire gathered. There was also a slave market and meetings were held on occasions of religious and secular holidays. To the north of the Agora are the ruins of the colonnade of the Basilica, built during the dynasty of the Augustan emperors.

Theater

Theater ruins

In fact, this is, apparently, just the favorite legend (“fable”) of all tour guides. It is unlikely, according to historians, that it was a brothel; most likely, just the house of rich townspeople. And also the fact that in one of its rooms there are portraits of a man and a woman (ostensibly speaking about the occupation in this house), is not necessarily a symbol of a brothel, since in rich houses such an image was always present, namely portraits of the owners. The small rooms referred to in the legends are also not necessarily lovemaking rooms, since they are actually the standard size for such rich houses. Also in this house were found figurines of the god of fertility (with a large reproductive organ) and this, too, according to many guides, is evidence that this building was a brothel. But again, historians say that many matrimonial bedrooms of that period were decorated with such figurines.

Kuretov Street

Gate of Hercules

At a certain time, the prytane chewed opium, and, drunk and dancing, they walked from the prytane to the Temple of Artemis. If at this time the clergyman was noticed by a criminal who was being taken to execution, then he was released.

Temple of Artemis

Ruins of the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus

Only one inconspicuous column survived from the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The column was found during archaeological excavations carried out by the British Museum in the 1870s. Minor fragments of the frieze and several other small finds are partly in the British Museum, partly in the Istanbul Archaeological Museum.

Notes

Links

Address: Türkiye
Based: 10th century BC
Destroyed: 15th century
Main attractions: Temple of Artemis, Library of Celsus, Bolshoi Theatre, Odeon (Maly Theatre), Temple of Hadrian, Kuretov Street
Coordinates: 37°56"24.3"N 27°20"29.8"E

Content:

The ancient Greek city of Ephesus - the same one where the temple of Artemis stood, destroyed by Herostratus in 356 BC - is located today on the Aegean coast of Turkey, between the cities of Izmir and Kusadasi.

Gate of Hercules

The ruins of ancient Ephesus are buried under an impenetrable swamp, and the part that has already been excavated is surrounded by a fence and is a museum under open air. Ephesus is one of the few cities where the structure of the ancient Greek settlement is perfectly preserved.

Walking along the ancient streets and viewing architectural monuments, a tourist can get an idea of the former splendor Greek polis. The ruins of the Roman agora and the Small Theatre, baths, fountains and rich quarters of mansions impress travelers with their impressive size and artistry.

Kuretov Street

Ephesus - the city of the Amazon

Ephesia The Greek colony of Ephesus was founded in the 11th century BC. Legends connect the appearance of the city with the name of Androcles, the son of the Athenian ruler Codras. In those days, the Greeks, who were building a new polis, turned for advice to the Delphic Oracle, which indicated the location of the founding of the future colony. The oracle told Androcles that the city should be founded in those lands where three “signs” come together - fire, fish and boar. Traveling along the coast of the Aegean Sea, Androcles found such a place: on the shore of the bay, fishermen were frying fish, and sparks flying from the fire set fire to a tree, from which a disturbed boar ran out. Soon Androcles met the Amazon warriors, with one of whom, Ephesia, he fell in love and named the city in her honor - Ephesus.

Library of Celsus

The Rise and Fall of Ephesus

Ephesus developed rapidly thanks to trade, but it reached its greatest prosperity under the Lydian king Croesus in 560 - 546 BC. e. Interestingly, when Croesus' Lydians invaded the city, local residents didn't have any defensive structures. They only connected the gates of Ephesus to the Temple of Artemis with a rope - this way, they believed, it would be easier for the goddess to protect them! Touched by such naivety, Croesus stopped the siege and even donated funds to the temple treasury. Later, Ephesus flourished under the rule of the Persians, it was part of the Roman Republic, Byzantium, the Ottoman Empire, and in the 15th century AD. fell into disrepair and was finally abandoned.

Bolshoi Theater from a bird's eye view

Ephesus - the center of early Christianity

In the 50s AD. Ephesus became one of the most important centers for the spread of Christianity. The Apostle Paul and John the Theologian preached here. According to legend, the Virgin Mary, the mother of I. Christ, spent the rest of her earthly life in this city. In Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary has been preserved - a small building with a basement where the Blessed Virgin lived out her last days.

In 1950, the building was reconstructed and rebuilt into a chapel. Although Jerusalem is traditionally considered the site of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, and the Vatican has not officially recognized the shrine as the House of St. Mary, it was visited by popes Paul VI, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI. On August 15, the Day of the Ascension of Our Lady, especially many pilgrims, often of different religions, flock to the chapel.

Temple of Hadrian

A little higher up the mountain, above the main entrance to the Ephesus Archaeological Park, there are the catacombs and the “Seven Sleepers” grotto, where, according to legend, Christian martyrs were walled up alive, falling into a miraculous sleep for almost 200 years.

Sights of Ephesus

Many monuments have been excavated in Ephesus, and most of them date back to the Roman era. The upper part of Ephesus begins with the well-preserved Baths of Varius, to which ceramic pipes are connected. At the foot of the baths there was a Caldarium - a room where hot water flowed. Nearby is the Agora - the main square of Ephesus, where in past centuries brisk trade was in full swing, celebrations were held on occasions of religious and secular holidays.

Fountain of Troyan

To the north of the Agora are the ruins of a basilica from the dynasty of Emperor Augustus, and behind the basilica is the Small Odeon Theater (150 BC), from the upper rows of which there are amazing views of the baths of Varius and Prytanium - the meeting place of the municipality of Ephesus. Near Prytanium, in the Temple of Vesta (III century BC), a hearth for the sacred fire was discovered. Along the slope from the Gate of Hercules to the Agora stretches the Avenue of Kuretes - the longest and most majestic street in all of Ephesus, decorated with columns, galleries, sculptures, fountains, and mosaics.

Odeon (Maly Theater)

Of particular interest to tourists are such monuments as the Temple of Hadrian (118-138 AD), the Bolshoi Theater (III-II centuries BC), the Library of Celsius (110-135 AD). ) and the Brothel connected to it by an underground passage - thus, the men of Ephesus could deceive their wives, saying that they were going to the library to read tomes. The Bolshoi Theater, which served as the arena for gladiator battles in the Roman era, still amazes the imagination. Its vaults can accommodate up to 25 thousand spectators, and thanks to the excellent acoustics, the speaker performing on stage can be clearly heard not only on the lower and upper tiers, but also outside the hall.

Ruins of the Temple of Artemis

From the Temple of Artemis, famous as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, only an inconspicuous column has survived. It was found during excavations carried out by English scientists in the 1870s. Small fragments of the ornament and several other finds are kept in the British Museum and the Istanbul Archaeological Museum.