|
|
| |
Ephesus,
known as one of the most fascinating archeological sites in the
world, was a large port and trading center at the crossroads of
important trade routes, such as the Kind road and the Silk road.
As the most visited antic
site of Turkey, Ephesus is the gate to Turkey’s presentation to
the world. Every year millions of visitors come to Ephesus for
its marvelous and mystical atmosphere. Huge granite columns are
witnesses of the city’s former magnificence and many worth-seeing
sites are surrounding it : |
 |
the Artemision,
one the Seven Wonders, the Saint-John’s church, the Cave of the
Seven Sleepers, the Shrine of Virgin Mary, the Mosque of Isabey
and the archeological museum of Selcuk.
Originally Ephesus was a
harbor city but due to the Menderes alluviums over the centuries,
the site is now remoted from sea for about 5-6 kms.
Excavation works in Ephesus
started about 129 years ago and there is no doubt that these
will go on for many years together with restoration works : each
piece brought to daylight gives new clues to archeologists about
more objects to be discovered or mysteries to be solved.
Androcles,
son of King Kondros, founded the city in 10 B.C. When Androcles
died during the war against the Carians, the habitants of
Ephesus erected a mausoleum for this hero, their first king.
This mausoleum may have been built around the Magnesia door.
The city was established on the shores of the
Konessos harbor where the Kucuk Menderes (“Kaystros”) floods
into the Aegean Sea. When Ephesus became member of the Ionian
Confederation, Carians and Lelegians inhabited it. By then the
town had to move stream upward to the current “Ayasolug Hill”
because of the alluviums.
After
the invasion, in the VIth century, by the Lydian King Kreisos,
Ephesus reached its apogee : it became a model for the antic
world in arts and culture. Refusing ruling by thirds, Ephesians
moved around the Artemision, today still waiting to be brought
to daylight. Later, during the “Ionian Rebellion”, Ephesians
refused to participate to the struggles against the Persians and
saved their city from complete destruction. Alexandre the Great,
who then decided to make the Ionic cities independent, ended the
war. Oligarchic and democratic partisans were quarreling and
destroyed the Artemision (356 B.C.). Alexander proposed to
rebuild it but the population could not agree with it as It
would not be right to build a temple for a god by a god.
In
190 B.C., the city, conquered and controlled by the Romans, was
given to the Bergamian Kings
ill it was re-ruled by the Romans in 133 B.C. After that the
city lived another Golden Age when it
became an important trade center and gave itself a brand-new
look :it many new buildings, such
as the Celcius Library, were erected.
 |
During the
upcoming of Christianity (the arriving of Saint John with
Virgin Mary, the preaches of Saint Paul), Ephesus became an
important center where Christians, Jews and pagans were to
share their temples. It is in that period that the Cave of the
Seven Sleepers, the Saint-John’s church were built.
After having been ruled by the Byzantine, the
Selcuks, Ephesus fell under the Ottomans but lost of its
importance as places such as Izmir and Kusadasi were becoming
important harbor cities. |
|
|
|
|
|
