The Turks call this place "Efes" which also an iconic brand of beer here .... but Ephesus is one of the wonders of the ancient world. We took the train from Izmir, the station was only 100m from our hotel, The Met. Very efficient, clean and organised trip to the town of Selcuk, to be dropped off at a station still being built with no apparent exit! We wondered over the rail lines, over half built platforms and eventually found street level. We hooked up with a rep from "No Frills EphesusTours" run by Mehmet and his Australian wife Christine. Air conditioned bus, English speaking guide and NO CARPET SHOPS@! We visited "Mary's House" which allegedly housed the 'Virgin Mary' who was brought here for her protection by St John. Also the 'Temple of Artemis" which was an amazing structure, one of the largest of its type, but little remains today. The wonderful statues of the god are located in the amazing museum.
What is different about Ephesus to other ancient settlements is the extensive reconstruction of the site so that you get a real understanding of the grandeur of the city of 250,000 and how the people lived. As usual those people at the top of society lived very well thank you with vast living spaces, hot baths, heated rooms, mosaic flooring and private worship. As a geographer I was especially intrigued to see the partial statue of one of the Roman emperors with his foot firmly planted on a representation of the globe, which was round! This was two millennia before Galileo was prevented from writing about its possibility. The city was the capital of Asia Minor in Roman times and a major port although it now lies several kilometres from the coast now.
What is different about Ephesus to other ancient settlements is the extensive reconstruction of the site so that you get a real understanding of the grandeur of the city of 250,000 and how the people lived. As usual those people at the top of society lived very well thank you with vast living spaces, hot baths, heated rooms, mosaic flooring and private worship. As a geographer I was especially intrigued to see the partial statue of one of the Roman emperors with his foot firmly planted on a representation of the globe, which was round! This was two millennia before Galileo was prevented from writing about its possibility. The city was the capital of Asia Minor in Roman times and a major port although it now lies several kilometres from the coast now.
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