Ephesus-Izmir/Turkey

[icy]

Ephesus is the best-preserved classical city on the Mediterranean,and perhaps the best place in the world to get the feeling for what life was like in Roman times. As a strategic coastal gateway to the Eastern World, this Ionian refuge grew to be the second largest city in the Roman Empire, the site of a Christian shrine, and one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Legend has it that the Virgin Mary,accompanied by St. Paul, came to Ephesus at the end of her life,circa 37-45 AD. Renaissance church historians mentioned the trip, and it is said that local Christians venerated a small house near Ephesus as Mary's. In 1967 Pope Paul VI. visited the site, where a chapel now stands, and confirmed the authenticity of the legend. Also the Basilica of St. John is located near Ephesus. St. John is said to have lived the last years of his life here and after his death, a shrine was located over his grave .

Celsus Library

Originally built in 115-25 A.D., this restored facade is a highlight of the ruins today. This style is believed to be the standard architectural form for Roman libraries. The interior measures 70 by 80 feet and held approximately 15,000 scrolls.This library was dedicated to Celsus the proconsul of Asia and his sarcophagus was located under the apse.

Great Theather

Theatre Type: Greco-Roman Theatre

Date of Construction:1st Century BC; Roman renovations AD 40-117

Renovation Dates: AD 40-117. Reconstruction after earthquakes in AD 262 and between AD 359 and 356.

Sacred Marble Way







Temple of Domitian





Tomb of Memmius







Temple of Hadrian





























Colonaded Street,Commercial Agora























Artemis of Ephesus(Diana)















Domitian



Livia(Mother of Tiberius)



Tiberius



Marcus Aurelius



Augustus





Commodius



Lamps









House of Virgin Mary







The Cave of Seven Sleepers









Another 7 wonders of the world.Temple of Artemis at Ephesus.

The ancient Greeks are known for their temples and for their pantheon of Gods and Goddesses. Artemis (also called Diana by the Romans) was Goddess of the hunt, fertility, birth, the woodlands, and the creatures of the forests. In the rural areas of the Greek world, she was beloved by the common people who lived off the land and particularly revered in Ephesus. In the 6th century BC, King Croesus of Lydia, one of the richest rulers of the time, worshipped Artemis with particular devotion and chose to build a temple for her that demonstrated both his great wealth and his great respect for her honor.

The resulting Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was undoubtedly one of the most spectacular accomplishments of the Golden Age of Greece. Most of us today, when asked to think of a Greek Temple, will think of the Parthenon still standing today at the Acropolis. But imagine a temple twice as high, eight times as large, a temple so big that a regulation NFL football field could fit inside. That's what Croesus imagined, and his fabulous wealth afforded.

The Temple of Artemis was finished around 560 BC, and stood for two hundred years before being burned to the ground by a deranged man named Herostratos, who (according to history) did this horrible act of vandalism for the sole purpose of becoming famous for having destroyed it.

But Alexander The Great, believed to have been born on the day the temple was destroyed, grew to manhood and power enchanted by this lost wonder, and he finally ordered it rebuilt. It stood for another five hundred years, before being plundered in the third century AD. Today, the foundation still exists and one solitary column, broken at the top and extensively restored, still stands to remind modern visitors of the glory that once was.

This Wonder is well documented in its design and many of its details. The exact size, number, and arrangement of its incredible columns is well known. The front row of columns had ornate relief sculptures around the base, depicting human subjects in festive poses. One of these relief column sculpture pieces is well preserved in the collection of the British Museum. The Goddess herself, Artemis, was represented by a statue in the center of the ceiling panel, and copies of that statue are in several museum collections

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billmunnsgallery.com

[Wicky]

Ephesus is really a phantastic place! Also thanks for for the description of this place great Greek history!

[Kuvvaci]

Turkey is the crossroads of the civilizations and history. What a reach country!

[Wicky]

Greek-Roman, or Roman-Greek civilisation is strongly present. But when will begin the restoration of this ancient town? Many other places in other countries are at least partly restored.

[Istanbullu]

When will begin?!! The restoration is going on for decades! It's a huge site for archeologists! I mean huge!

[Allan]

It is true that this site has been a mecca for archeologists and tourists as well. Excavation and preservation has been going on for years, it is such a wonderland where you would take your time and lose yourself in the streets of this ancient city. Beautiful.

[icy]

Temple of Artemis..from miniaturk..(Miniaturk is a park with the models of landscapes and historical buildings from Turkey)

[Ozcan]

Splendid

[Kuvvaci]

Thank you icy for showing this treasure of Turkey. We invite everyone to see this treasure of humanity.

[icy]

Thanks.Ephesus is one of treasures of Turkey.But there are many areas to be exacavate.The researches still continue

[Kuvvaci]

icy do you know anything about the restoration of Artemis Temple?

[toraman]

This thread shows the cultural and historical weath of Turkey... Thank you icy...

[izmirli_mert]

iZMİR , dünyanın en önemli tarih kentlerinden birisidir. roma , atina , izmir aynı periyotta yer almaktadır üçüde dünyaca önemlidir. Ancak İzmir yeterince günümüzde tanıtılamamıs ve roma ile atinanın gerisinde kalmıstır. Ancak son dönemde yapılan restorasyonlarla izmirde hızla tarihi ünvanına yeniden kavusmaktadır. Bu da İzmirin gelecekte avrupanın tanınan önemli metropollerinden olacagının bir kanıtıdır..

[manon]

image hosted on flickr

Celsus Library Façade II by Beum เบิ้ม PortÆ’olio, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

ÉFESO by Rui Ornelas, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Turkey-2787 - View large by archer10 (Dennis), on Flickr