Ephesus

Ephesus was one of the great cities of the Ionian Greeks in Anatolia, located in Lydia where the Cayster River flows into the Aegean Sea. It was forunded by colonists principally from Athens. The ruins of Ephesus are a favorite domestic and international tourism attraction, due to easy accessibility via Izmir ADB airport and the port of Kusadasi.

History of Ephesus

Ephesus is believed by many to be the Apasa mentioned in Hittite sources as the capital for the Kingdom of Arzawaa. Mycenaean pottery has been found in excavations at the site. The “Lady of Ephesus,” identified by Greeks as Artemis, was venerated in the Temple of Artemis, the largest building of the ancient world, according to Pausanias (4.31.8). It was also one of the Seven Wonders of the World, of which scarcely a trace remains.

Beginning in the Roman Republic, Ephesus was the capital of proconsular Asia, which covered the Western part of Asia Minor. The original city of Ephesus was located on low ground, and was completely flooded by the sea. The city was rebuilt by Lysimachus, who destroyed the cities of Lebedos and Colophon in 292 BC and relocated their inhabitants to the new city. The city bore the title of “the first and greatest metropolis of Asia.” It was distinguished for the Temple of Artemis, who had her chief shrine there, for its library, and for its theatre, which would have been capable of holding 25,000 spectators. It was, like all ancient theatres, open to the sky. The theatre was used initially for drama, but during later Roman times gladiatorial combats were also held on its stage.

The population of Ephesus has been estimated to be in the range of 400,000 to 500,000 inhabitants in the year 100AD, making it the largest city in Roman Asia and one of the largest cities of the day. Ephesus also had several major bath complexes, built at various points while the city was under Roman rule. The city had one of the most advanced aqueduct systems in the ancient world, with multiple aqueducts of various sizes to supply water to different areas of the city, including four major aqueducts.

Although, sacked by Goths in 263 AD, Ephesus remained the most important city of the Byzantine Empire after Constantinople in the 5th and 6th centuries. However, other destructions by the Arabs in the year 700 and 716 spurred a quick decline: the city was largely abandoned when the harbor completely filled in with river silt (despite repeated dredges during the city’s history), removing its access to the Aegean Sea. When the Seljuk Turks conquered it in 1090, it was a small village. The Byzantines resumed control in 1100 and kept control of the region until the end of the 13th century. After a short period of flourishing under the new rulers, it was definitely abandoned in the 15th century.

Ephesus was an important center for the early Christianity, Saint Paul used it as a base. He became embroiled in a dispute with artisans, whose livelihood depended on the Temple of Artemis there (Acts 19:23-41), and wrote 1 Corinthians from Ephesus. Later Saint Paul wrote to the Chrisitan community at Ephesus.

The Apostle and Evangelist John lived in Asia Minor in the last decades of the first century and from Ephesus had guided the Churches of that province. After Domitian’s death the Apostle returned to Ephesus during the reign of Trajan, and at Ephesus he died about 100AD.

Ephesus was one of the seven cities addressed in Revelation (2:1-7). There is also a letter written by Ignatius of Antioch to the Ephesians in the early 2nd century, that begins with, “Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the church which is a Ephesus, in Asia, deservedly most happy, being blessed in the greatness and fullness of God the Father, and predestinated before the beginning of time, that it should be always for an enduring and unchangeable glory” (Letter to the Ephesians).

House of the Virgin Mary

Historically, it is known that Jesus entrusted the care of his mother, the Virgin Mary, to Saint John the Evangelist. He brought her to Ephesus.

During excavations carried out at the beginning of the 19th century near one of the sacred sources of Mount Pion, the remains of the foundation of an old house were discovered, with pieces of coal in the home. The house is situated in the same place where each year Christians celebrated the festivals honoring the Virgin Mary. Today, there is a church built upon the house of the Virgin Mary, venerated by Christians and other religions. The house of the Virgin Mary (Turkish:Meryemana, meaning “Mother Mary”), is located about 7Km from Selcuk, it is believed to have been the last home of Mary, mother of Jesus and is a popular place of pilgrimage. Also nearby is the town of Meryemana.

Church of the Virgin Mary

The Grain Market was converted, in the fourth century, to the first church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, when Christianity was adopted as official religion of the State. It is one of the most important historic temples of the Christianity, therefore, Ephesus was the setting for the Third Ecumenical Council in 431, which resulted in the condemnation of Nestorius.