Ephesus: The Rome of the Middle East
If ancient cities are of particular interest as a family vacation spot, ancient history enthusiasts will be glad to know that there is a Middle Eastern city not entirely transformed by reconstruction and remodeling. Enough remains of the old city of Ephesus in Turkey that visitors can easily imagine what life would have been like in ancient times. It isn’t as popular as Rome so tourists probably won’t have to contend with quite so many fellow travelers; this isn’t a bad thing, especially if you don’t want to rush your sightseeing.
Legends and Lore: The Meryemana and the Grotto of the Seven Sleepers
Ephesus didn’t have a good reputation among the moral scholars in the olden days, but those notions have now been replaced by feelings of awe; no matter how its inhabitants acted in the past, one must admire Ephesus for what remains. It is an architectural gem just waiting to be explored. For those interested in religious history, one of the first attractions to see is the Meryemana, the very place where the Virgin Mary was purported to have lived.
Although no one is certain that Meryemana was Mary’s actual home, it is a fascinating prospect for Christian pilgrims to consider. The house is short and unassuming; it’s quite obvious that it is an ancient building. Inside the house is a beautiful shrine filled with all sorts of eye-pleasing treasures. Ephesus is also of interest to pilgrims because of the trip the Apostle Paul once made to the city and by the place known as the Grotto of the Seven Sleepers. This is an interesting legend that involves miraculous time travel by Christian youths in ancient days.
The Celsus Library
If you want more than religious history during your trip to Ephesus, check out the Celsus Library. The facade is the largest thing remaining of this striking building, but from the facade alone, one can tell the whole structure was beautiful. Constructed in the 1st century, the Celsus Library is also the resting place of a Roman governor named (you guessed it) Celsus. The rest of the library was consumed by flames in the 3rd century, unfortunately for history lovers. It is amazing that even the facade has survived for this long.
The Theatre of Ephesus: Even the Ruins Are Impressive
If you like the history of the gladiators and the spectator sports of ancient Rome, check out Ephesus’ theatre. One glance at the huge stadium makes it obvious that this was a place of great popularity and importance, able to seat thousands of cheering fans. Even the ruins show good craftsmanship; the remains of columns show that there must have been at least minimal ornamentation.
The Ephesus Theatre is located on Panayir Hill and visitors can’t miss it. Originally built in the BC era, it was rebuilt by Romans after they took over the territory. The Roman form of the theatre is the one that currently exists. History shows us that many functions took place here, not only the violent games that we associate with Rome. In ancient Ephesus you could come here to see a play, attend a faith-based gathering, or talk about the latest theology, among many other things.
The Glorious Temples of Ephesus
The Temple of Artemis is a big part of Ephesus’ story. Though visitors today can’t see anything more than ruins, the few broken columns make it a good place to contemplate the ravages of time. It has been generally acknowledged that, in its heyday, the temple was a beautiful place to worship one of the most popular goddesses in the ancient era. Like all old buildings, it was built, rebuilt, and changed over the centuries. The temple burned in the 4th century BC, and, as legend has it, Alexander the Great came into the world that very day. This story has helped to raise the Temple of Artemis to the rank of immortality. Its most recent construction came in the 100s BC. A Gothic invasion proved to be the downfall of the temple.
Other temple ruins in Ephesus include the Temple of Domitian and the Temple of Hadrian. The Temple of Hadrian has an exquisite front entrance, again showing how lovely it must have been when it was first built. It is located in the popular region of ancient Ephesus known as Curetes Street. Take time to look at the decorations etched into the facade and see the detail that was carefully added to each spot. While strolling along Curetes Street, try to reconstruct it in your mind’s eye.
Curetes Street: An Ancient Shopping Mall?
In ancient times, this street was as popular as many tourist destinations are today. The street had colorful tiles, a roof incase inclement weather threatened, and many fancy decorations. This was a place for Romans to buy anything their hearts desired. One could compare it to an outdoor shopping mall of the 21st century. Unfortunately, natural disasters reduced Curetes Street to the ruins modern visitors will see. While in this area, look for the Hercules Gate. Though little remains, the figures of Hercules carved into the pillars are still visible.
Go Down to the Gym and Then Take A Swim . . .
Ephesus’ definition of a gymnasium was rather different than today’s places of muscle-toning and work-outs; in the city’s glory days, at the gymnasium of Vedius, young people could come here to learn many different things including forms of acting and artistic endeavors. Though Ephesus had more than one such place, this was the popular place to be. Baths were also a pleasant feature of the Vedius Gymnasium. The Bath of Varius was another option for Ephesians who wanted a good long soak. Archways and crumbling stones remain. Unfortunately, much archaeology work hasn’t been done on this area, so the hidden treasures haven’t yet been found.
Fountains and Elegant Homes Add A Touch of Beauty
The Fountain of Trajan, even in its ruined state, is still beautiful to look upon. Named for Emperor Trajan, it was built in the 2nd century AD and was only one of the fountains located in ancient Ephesus. The Fountain of Pollio with its elegant arch was another big monument in the city. If you want to look into the lives of the well-to-do, check out the excavated Terrace Houses. These were obviously not residences for the common folk of Ephesus; even though parts of the houses were destroyed over time, what remains is still impressive.
