The ancient city of Ephesus in Turkey: description and history. The ancient city of Ephesus - history and main attractions The legend of the founding of the city

Ephesus is a museum city located next to Selcuk, once a tiny farming village, now a large tourist center. The archaeological complex attracts travelers with its antiquity and very good preservation. True, there are almost always a lot of tourists here, but the place is definitely worth a visit.

The museum's territory is not very large; a visit usually takes two to three hours. But be sure to take water with you, as the taps are drinking water are located at the entrances, and drinks can only be purchased outside the complex.

You can enter the museum through two entrances: upper and lower, and there are ticket offices next to each of them. It is better to choose the road that goes from top to bottom.

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How to get to Ephesus

Tourists coming to Ephesus usually stay in Selcuk, which is most easily accessible from Izmir. You can take a bus from the bus station; the transport is not very comfortable and crowded, but is usually air-conditioned. Travel time is 40 minutes, the ticket costs 9 TRY, you buy it from the driver. The main bus carrier on this route is Metro, the schedule can be found at the office. website (in English).

There are also trains to Selcuk from Izmir Basmane station. They charge 4.75 TRY for a ticket, but you will have to spend 1.5 hours on the road. More detailed information is provided at. Turkish website railways(in English).

The train makes a stop at Izmir airport, so if you wish, you can immediately go towards Ephesus without stopping at the resort.

Another way is by rented car or taxi. The distance from Izmir to Selcuk is just under 80 km, the roads are good, there are paid section price 2.5 TRY. A taxi ride will cost about 250 TRY. Prices on the page are for October 2018.

From Selcuk to Ephesus

Most travelers walk to the museum, which is only 3 km away, but you can take a taxi. It will cost about 15 TRY, the car will drive right to the top entrance. For those who travel by car, it will be more convenient to stop near the lower gate, there is a large parking lot there. Tourist buses arrive there.

Search for air tickets to Izmir (closest airport to Ephesus)

Transport

Since Ephesus is an archaeological museum, you can only move around it on foot. The territory is small, but in some places difficult to navigate, so it is important to take care of comfortable shoes. But there are taxis actively driving around the complex: they offer a ride to the upper entrance, return back “to the city” or show you other attractions. They work according to the counter, but it is important to ensure that it is reset to zero. They charge about 2 TRY per kilometer plus 4-5 TRY for landing.

Another popular look transport in Selcuk - dolmushi - something like our minibuses that run between cities, but stop where the passenger needs. The journey costs 3-5 TRY.

Some tourists rent bicycles to get around the city and get to Ephesus (bikes are not allowed into the museum grounds). Renting costs 18-20 TRY per day, it is better to take a mountain model, since the area around is very mountainous.

Communications and Wi-Fi

Turkey's three leading mobile operators are Turkcell, Avia and Vodafone. Travelers usually choose the first one as it has the widest coverage area. Although the other two also work well. SIM cards are sold with certain service packages, which already include calls, SMS, and mobile internet. The average package price is 25-50 TRY.

Many tourists have heard that when traveling to Turkey, your phone needs to be registered. This only applies to those who plan to spend more than 30 days in the country. They must pay a fee of 115 TRY and register.

Wi-Fi is available in many hotels and restaurants, and has occasionally begun to appear in other public places. Sometimes connection requires payment, but most often a password is enough. True, the signal can be extremely unstable. There is no Internet on the territory of the archaeological complex of ancient Ephesus.

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Hotels

IN small town Selcuk has more than a hundred accommodation options: from cheap guest houses to luxury hotels. The most modest room for two can be rented for even 50 TRY. In mid-price hotels (2-3*), a room will cost 100-200 TRY per day. And truly royal conditions will cost about 400 TRY per night.

Almost always the hosts offer breakfast and excursion program for an additional fee. Many guest houses and hotels offer bicycle rentals. But there are no classic hostels in the vicinity of Ephesus, as well as well-equipped camping areas.

What to bring from Ephesus

Near both entrances to Ephesus, tourists are greeted by shops that sell all the classic Turkish souvenirs: from glass “eyes” to carpets and copper utensils, as well as colored lamps, ceramics, hookahs, inlaid chess and much more. Oriental sweets, for example, the famous Turkish delight, assortments of herbs and spices, will be a good gift for friends and family.

Those who are looking for something special specifically from Ephesus can pay attention to magnets and other souvenirs depicting the ancient city, books and albums, as well as very impressive jewelry from local store: All taxis and buses must pass by it.

On the territory of the museum itself there are people offering tourists to buy finds secondhand. archaeological excavations. There is no need to do this, since at best they are scammers selling counterfeits. And in the worst case, that is, when buying real antiquities, you will have problems with the police. By law, it is prohibited to buy and export from the country anything that can be considered a museum value.

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Cuisine and restaurants

In Ephesus itself there are no cafes or hotels where you can have a snack, so it is best to take food with you. In Selcuk (even on the outskirts closest to Ephesus) there are many different establishments: from expensive restaurants to fast food.

The most common and cheapest snack is kebab; it is sold in kebabchi stalls. The so-called “denerji” also offer lamb, but with bread and sometimes a side dish. Both there and there you can have a snack for 3-5 TRY. “Pideji” are small restaurants where they prepare flatbreads with a variety of fillings (usually also meat), for 5-7 TRY. In simple restaurants, lokanta is usually eaten local residents, but tourists can also join them. It's inexpensive and very tasty here. Lunch per person will cost approximately 25-30 TRY. In fine restaurants, prices are much higher - here you will have to pay from 50 TRY for dinner.

The cuisine in these places is heavy, but tasty. Almost all main dishes are prepared from lamb or chicken. It is worth trying manti, dumplings and special cutlets - “kefte”. Fish is very popular, and fresh vegetables, stewed beans or zucchini are usually used as a side dish. Among the sweets, pakhvala and halva are invariably favorites.

The best photos of Ephesus

Entertainment and attractions of Ephesus

Ephesus is the largest archaeological site in the eastern Mediterranean, with finds dating back to the Roman period. Scientists estimate that only 15% of the ancient city has been excavated, giving an idea of ​​its splendor.

Among the most beautiful buildings is the one built in 117 AD. e. the library of Celsus, which was a kind of monumental tomb for Tiberius Julius Celsus, who served as governor of the province of Asia in the Roman Empire and was buried in a sarcophagus under the basement of the building. The construction of the tomb, the entrance of which was decorated with two statues of Athena, the goddess of wisdom, was a gift to Tiberius from his son Gaius Julius Aquila. At one time, the library housed more than 12,000 handwritten scrolls - some were placed in cabinets and wall niches, while other, more valuable copies were kept behind double walls behind the cabinets to protect them from changes in temperature and humidity.

The Library of Celsus was considered the richest in ancient times after the libraries in Alexandria and Pergamon.

The Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is represented only by an inconspicuous column discovered during archaeological excavations carried out by the British Museum in 1870. Some fragments of the frieze and other small finds discovered at the site of the temple are now kept in the British Museum in London and Archaeological Museum in Istanbul.

The Odeon was a small indoor theater built by Publius Vedius Antony and his wife around 150 AD. e. A small venue for performances and concerts could accommodate up to 1,500 people. There were 22 steps of stairs leading to the theater, and its upper part was decorated with red granite pillars made in the Corinthian style. There were entrances on both sides of the stage.

Temple of Hadrian, dating from the 2nd century AD. BC, dedicated to Emperor Hadrian, who visited Ephesus in 128. The facade of one of the most beautiful and well-preserved buildings in Ephesus is decorated with 4 Corinthian columns supported by a curved arch, in the center of which is depicted Tyche, the goddess of chance and luck. This temple was depicted on back side 20 million Turkish lira banknotes in 2001-2005. and the new banknote 2005-2009. The Temple of Domitian was one of the largest temples in the city.

The Temple of Artemis is one of the seven wonders of the world.

With a capacity of up to 44 thousand seats and located under open air Ephesus Theater is the largest of its kind in ancient world. Its construction dates back to the Hellenistic period during the reign of Lysimachus (3rd century BC). During the Roman period, the theater was used not only for concerts and plays, but also for religious, political and philosophical discussions, as well as bull and gladiator fights.

Other attractions: the Agora portico, the Temple of Hestia, the Gate of Hercules, an ensemble of houses with mosaic floors and wall frescoes (Houses on the Hillside), the Prytanaeum office building and a local brothel with a road sign to it.

Neighborhood

Not far from Ephesus are the ruins of the Basilica of St. John, built in the 4th century AD. e. According to legend, at this place there is the grave of the apostle, around which a religious building gradually arose. In the 14th century there was a mosque here, and then an earthquake caused serious damage to the building.

Ephesus is called the city of the “seven sleepers”, they were young Christians who were persecuted because of their faith in God. According to legend, they were walled up in a cave where the men slept for more than two centuries, and when they emerged from captivity, it turned out that Christianity had become the dominant religion. The cave is located a kilometer from the ancient city and is still considered a place of worship for Catholics and Orthodox Christians, but now you cannot enter it, you are only allowed to watch from the side.

About 9 km from Ephesus there are the remains of a house where, according to legend, the Virgin Mary lived after the death of Christ. It was once a two-story stone structure, which even today is considered a typical example of Roman architecture. Visitors can view central part and the room on the right. In addition, next to the house there is a spring of the Virgin Mary; people believe that the water in it has healing properties.

One more thing interesting place, located in Selcuk, but directly associated with Ephesus - the Ephesus Museum. It features authentic archaeological finds, discovered in the city and tombs. The most famous exhibits are the figurine of Eros on a dolphin and the room of Artemis.

4 things to do in Ephesus

1. Visit the ruins of one of the seven wonders of the world - the Temple of Artemis.
2. Admire the majestic Library of Celsus.
3. Sit down on the steps of an ancient Greek theater and watch a performance by modern musicians or actors in an ancient setting.
4. Get acquainted with the Christian shrine - the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which became the first temple in history dedicated to the Mother of God.

Weather

Ephesus is characterized by hot, dry and even muggy days in the summer and cool, very damp winters. During the warm half of the year there is practically no rain; this is the best time to come here for sightseeing. Although at the height of summer it can be too hot at archaeological sites, so it is better to choose the spring or autumn months.

If you want to explore ancient monuments without crowds of tourists, you can come in winter. The temperature at this time is almost never below zero, but it rains periodically.

This ancient architectural monument dates back to the 5th century BC. It is a popular destination among tourists - because its ruins have survived to this day. The temple dedicated to Artemis is included in the list of 7 wonders of the world.

The construction of the temple was financed by King Croesus of Lydia, and the architects of the building were Hersiphron and his son Metagenes. The temple was a structure 51 meters wide, 105 meters long and the height of its columns was up to 18 meters. In total, the temple was decorated with 127 columns. The new temple featured a statue of Artemis made of ivory and gold. There were also many paintings, statues, and reliefs inside the temple.

Today, only one column, restored from the rubble, remains of the majestic temple.

Coordinates: 37.94944400,27.36361100

clock tower

anniversary of Abdulhamid II's reign. The watch itself was a gift from the German Emperor Wilhelm II (reigned 1888 - 1918). The entire design of the tower is designed in the style of the Ottoman Empire. At the base of the tower there are four fountains.

From 1983 to 1989, Turkish 500 lira banknotes featured the Clock Tower surrounded by palm trees.

It seems that in Izmir everyone focuses on the Clock Tower... And everyone only meets near it. The romantic, mysterious Tower building stands in the center of Konak Square. Nearby is the Konak Camii Mosque. The square is always full of pigeons, and people relaxing on the benches can feed them directly from their hands. Numerous tourists have the opportunity to take simply unique photographs here. The Clock Tower looks especially fabulous at night, when it is illuminated by multi-colored lantern lights.

Coordinates: 38.41886400,27.12863400

What sights of Ephesus did you like? Next to the photo there are icons, by clicking on which you can rate a particular place.

Library of Celsus

The Library of Celsus was built in the period 114-135 in honor of Tiberius Julius Celsus, a Roman proconsul who had a varied education and a rich outlook. The Library of Celsus is the second largest after the Library of Alexandria and represents the pinnacle of Hellenistic architectural thought.

The library burned down in the 3rd century during an attack by the Goths, having existed for about a hundred years. Only the facade of the building has survived to this day, vaguely reminiscent of theatrical scenery. The length of the facade is 21 meters, the height is 16. The lower tier of the facade is decorated with sculptures of “Virtue”, “Knowledge”, “Wisdom”, “Thoughts”. On the left side of the façade are statues of the slaves Mazeus and Mithridates, the architects of this magnificent library, who received their freedom from the hands of Emperor Augustus after the construction of the library.

Coordinates: 37.93979800,27.34071600

Mount Sipil, or Sipuli-dag, is a spur of the mountain range mentioned by Homer. The mountain is famous for its complex rock relief, reminiscent of the image of Niobe, who gave birth to her son Sipylus. Sipylus, like the other sons of Niobe, was killed by the arrows of Apollo. Niobe, mad with grief, turned into stone - so the legend says.

Mount Sipuli-dag was broken by a powerful earthquake into separate parts-cliffs. Also, the earthquake destroyed the ancient capital of Maeonia (Lydia), a gold-rich country, Tantalida, located on the slopes of the mountain.

The cracks and crevices of Mount Sipylus indicate that volcanic activity the mountains have not stopped yet. But today mountain range calm and safe, and popular with tourists.

Coordinates: 38.56903900,27.45464800

Wall of Wishes at the House of the Virgin Mary

The house of the Virgin Mary is located on Nightingale Mountain (Bulbul Daga) at an altitude of 358 meters above sea level. Near her house there is a monument to her, as well as a Wall of Wishes.

It is known that the Mother of God spent the last years of her life here, in Ephesus. Also in this place the Apostle John wrote his Gospel.

Numerous pilgrims visit this holy place, light candles, draw holy water from springs and, of course, leave their cherished desire on the wall.

The wall is an unusual building, which is completely covered with scraps of fabric, pieces of paper, napkins and other materials on which believers write their wishes. Once a week, abandoned wishes are burned and the ashes are scattered to the wind.

It is believed that wishes made must come true.

Coordinates: 37.91874300,27.33123800

Cadifekale Castle

Kadifekale Castle is located on the hill of the ancient Turkish city of Izmir, the pearl of the Aegean region, and is one of the brightest ancient architectural monuments. Translated from Turkish, “Kadifikale” means “velvet castle”.

Kadifekale was built in the 4th century BC by Alexander the Great's general Lysimachus. The area of ​​the castle is 6 square kilometers, the largest high point previously reached 35 meters. Today, five towers of the fortress and its southern wall have been preserved. The remaining buildings were reconstructed.

Kadifekale Castle is located about two kilometers from coastline seas. The hill on which it is built consists of six blocks, which were essentially slums. But in 2007, the Izmir city administration decided to reconstruct all the buildings on the hill.

Today, Kadifekale Castle, built during the reign of Alexander the Great, is ready to welcome everyone who wants to “talk” with history within its ruined walls. Rising above Izmir, it provides an excellent viewing platform from which a beautiful panorama of the Izmir Bay opens up.

Coordinates: 38.41361800,27.14645200

Ancient city of Clazomena

Ruin ancient greek city Clazomena, founded in the 10th century BC. e., are located about resort town Izmir in Turkey, in the territory modern city Urla and its surrounding areas. The name Clazomena is translated from ancient Greek as “people port city" Previously, the city was located on the mainland, but in the fifth century, after the war with the Persians, it was moved to the island. Constant excavations are underway in Urla, which are revealing more and more new facts about Klazomen. At the bottom of the bay you can see the foundations of a small ancient theater.

South of the port of Urla, the Institute of Archeology of Greece discovered an ancient necropolis with 40 painted terracotta sarcophagus burials. The Institute's archaeologists also discovered many depressions and wells. It turned out that these were ancient tanks for the production of olive oil. For their production, oak bark was used, which does not affect the taste or smell of the product. Excavations have shown that Clazomeni is the most ancient center of olive oil production in the ancient world.

Klazomeny is becoming increasingly popular among tourists as a place where you can touch ancient history, ancient buildings and objects that were used by local residents in the distant 10th century BC.

Coordinates: 38.36524800,26.75831800

Konak Square

Konak Square is the busiest part of the ancient city of Izmir. On the square there are central bus station, Konak Mosque and City Hall building. Central location The square is occupied by the famous Clock Tower, which is the symbol of the city of Izmir. The square is also the entry point to large market Kemeralti. On the southern part of the square is the Cultural Center of the University of Ege, which invites visitors to the museum contemporary art, opera house and a music academy.

Despite the fact that the square is always crowded, it is a very beautiful part of the city. It is located next to the Aegean Sea, and the light sea wind pleases people in the square with its coolness. To approach sea ​​water, you need to go through a busy green alley and footbridge, next to which there is a beautiful fountain.

There are always a lot of pigeons in Konak Square, which you can feed directly from your palms. Nice park and many small cozy cafes await their guests. Konak Square is a great place for walking and shopping. For tourists, next to the square, a few steps from the sea, a comfortable hotel “Konak” was built.

Coordinates: 38.41881300,27.12842000

The most popular attractions in Ephesus with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose best places to visit famous places of Ephesus on our website.

Ancient city Ephesus (Türkiye) 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, which went down to the port and was 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 - was founded on the shore 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 Ottoman Empire captured a significant part of Asia Minor, including the territory in which 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

The history of archaeological excavations on the territory of the ancient city dates back to 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 in a later period it 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 others cultural centers In 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 an extremely rare occurrence in the Roman Empire, 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 cities, many more were built in Ephesus places of worship. 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. Only a few surviving fragments remain of the former splendor of this pagan temple.

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, the Mother of Jesus Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, spent her last years. 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.

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 short time 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. A Greek colony was founded on Ayazuluk Hill, three kilometers from the center of ancient Ephesus, as confirmed by excavations in the 1990s at Selcuk 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

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

IN certain time Prytane chewed opium, and, drunk and dancing, walked from 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

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 city 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 a major port city, prospering for a long time due to navigation 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 its original form did not stand for 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 are perfectly preserved public places and administrative buildings of the 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, which 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 to. 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, pure water which could heal diseases. IN late XIX century, during excavations near the spring, the remains of a residential building and hearths were discovered, later dated to the 1st century AD. e. Now in this place it stands Catholic chapel and all year round pilgrims flock here from all over the world: 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 a 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.