TURKEY – Ephesus

08:29 Travel Bunny 0 Comments

Ephesus, located on the West Coast of Turkey, next to Selcuk is an ancient Greek city and later a major Roman city. Famed for the Temple of Artemis (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World), Ephesus is also mentioned in the Book of Revelation as one of the seven churches of Asia.

The ancient city of Ephesus is the jewel in the crown of Turkey’s archaeological sites which was once famed for its beauty and wealth. Founded in the 13th century BC, it had become a major Aegean Port with a population of more than 300,000 by the end of the first century BC. By the time of Augustus Caesar, it was the capital of Roman Asia.

In 27 BC, when Augustus became emperor, he made Ephesus the capital of proconsular Asia and it was second in importance and size only to Rome.


This is Odeon which is an indoor theatre once topped with a wooden roof.


In front of the Odeon is the Basilica. The two-storey, triple-aisled Basilica was built in A.D. 11. It was one of the most significant construction in the city. The front facade had 67 columns.

 Prostitute used to stand by the columns to attract their customers. It was also one of the oldest profession in the world.


Upper Agora is the market area in the city. Slaves were being traded here.


The Prytaneum was the the office of the city’s leading government dignitary. Now only the two columns remain.


Interestingly, the word “Nike” comes from this goddess.


Heading to the Curetes Street, which is the main street in the ancient city.


Passed by another beautiful ruins.






This is actually the facade of a fountain building named “The Nymphaeum Traiani”.


The facade of Temple of Hadrian is now under restoration. There is a relief of the snake-headed Medusa on top of the center doorway.


On the left of Curetes Street is the Terrace Houses. These residence of the wealthy has its own heating system and bath.


There are quite a handful of cats lingering around at the site. I was wondering if anybody was feeding them.


Finally the beautiful Library of Celcus is right before our eyes.


But before that, our guide took us to visit an interesting place – the ancient toilet of Rome.

It wasn’t all that different compared to the modern day water closet. It was even complete with drainage system. What amuse me is that the Roman men used to socialise in the public toilet.

This was where the musicians played music in the toilet!


Now, back to the Library of Celcus. It was built in honour of Roman Senator Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus by his son in the year 135.




The Library of Celcus stands at the top of Marble Avenue, a road paved with marble and worn by chariot wheels.


The beautiful pillared facade. Sadly, the library and all its book was destroyed by fire in the devastating earthquake that struck the city in 262. The facade survived, but was completely destroyed by a later earthquake. The beautiful facade we see now was being rebuilt during the 1960 and 1970. 




There are four beautiful statues at its facade. The originals are in Vienna’s Ephesus Museum.


Reconstruction of the interior room.




Beside the Library is the Gate of Augustus that leads to the Lower Agora.


The Great Theatre is  where gladiators battled to the death in front of the audiences.




This is the Roman reconstruction of the earlier theatre built by Lysimachus and is believed to be largest outdoor theatre in the ancient world. Mount Pion at its back whereby the 66 tiers of seating which held 25,000 spectators, are craved into the mountain.


The Gladiator’s room underneath the theatre.


A cat perching on one of the columns at the Arcadian Way which leads from the port to the theatre. The avenue of Arcadian Way used to be a grand affair, with colonnades, fountains, monuments and streetlights along it. 

As the port silted up, the city waned and finally it was abandoned altogether. Even though the ancient city has been established few thousand years ago, it remains in such good conditions despite the many wars that went on around it. You know why? There was no need to plunder an already deserted city! 



Time to leave Ephesus.


We stopped by a shop recommended by our guide for its olive oil product. Then we headed to the Sirince Village.



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