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Ephesus Information
This enclosure for archaeological remains at Ephesus elegantly
reconciles historic conservation with accessibility for visitors.
The site of a succession of great ancient civilizations,
Ephesus, on the south-west coast of modern Turkey, embodied a
peculiarly fertile synthesis of architecture and culture. In 356BC
the Greeks built the Artemesium (a colossal Ionic temple dedicated
to Artemis the fertility goddess) which was one of the Seven
Wonders of the ancient world. During the 2nd century BC, Ephesus
was the fourth largest city in the eastern Roman Empire, famous
for its Artemesium, the Library of Celsus and its medical school.
Quoted from Catherine Slessor's Housing
History.
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Ephesus; Ancient Greek city of
Asia Minor, near the mouth of the Menderes River, in what is today
West Turkey, South of Smyrna (now Izmir). One of the greatest of
the Ionian cities, it became the leading seaport of the region.
Its wealth was proverbial. The Greek city was near an old center
of worship of a native nature goddess, who was equated with the
Greek Artemis, and c.550 B.C. a large temple was built. To this
Croesus, who captured the city, contributed.
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When Lydians attacked their cities,
Ephesians defended themselves by tying a rope from The Temple of
Artemis. But it was not a good way to defend a city. Croesus of
Lydia captured it easily however he did not destroy. The city
reached the "Golden Age" and became a good model to the Antic
World in culture and art, as well. Building of the Artemission was
going on.Croesus had a great respect to Artemis and he donated 36
columns with sculptures in relief. Some parts of these sculptures
are in the British Museum today.
From Lydian control Ephesus passed to the Persian Empire. The
temple was burned down in the 4th cent. B.C., but rebuilding was
begun before Alexander the Great took Ephesus in 334. The city
continued to thrive during the wars of his successors, and after
it passed (133) to the Romans it kept its hegemony and was the
leading city of the province of Asia. The great temple of Artemis,
or Artemis, called by the Romans the temple of Diana, was
considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. From c.100 B.C.
to c. A.D. 100 Ephesus was the world capital of the slave trade.
The city was sacked by the Goths in A.D. 262, and the temple was
destroyed. The seat of a church council in 431, Ephesus was
abandoned after the harbor silted up. Excavations (1869-74) of the
ruins of the temple brought to light many artifacts. Later
excavations uncovered important Roman and Byzantine remains.
Quoted from The Columbia Encyclopedia,
Sixth Edition. 2001.
In a Christian version of a widespread story, martyrs immured in a
cave near Ephesus during the persecutions by Decius (c.250). Long
afterward, in the 5th cent., they awoke (as from sleep) and were
taken before Theodosius II, Roman emperor of the east. Their story
reassured the emperor, who had been wavering in his faith. The
youths returned to their cave, to sleep again until Judgment. The
story, thought to be of Syrian origin, was popularized by Gregory
of Tours. Feast: July 27.
Quoted from The Columbia Encyclopedia,
Sixth Edition. 2001.
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