Ephesus also appears in the Bible and the story is quite dramatic. Ephesus was established in 7 C BC and was the Capital of Roman Settlement in Asia Minor. Thus, Ephesus was an important and very active trading port during the Roman Empire's rule. In this town, a goddess called Artemis, the fertility goddess, was worshipped, who was the same as Diana of the Roman gods. Many people visited Ephesus in pilgramage to worship Artemis. Thus, many silversmiths made replicas of this goddess and many merchants made good business of selling them. When Aposlte Paul came to Ephesus, he preached passionately against idol worship and this triggered an uproar against Paul. This happened at the amphitheater that is still standing pretty well kept.
Also, it is considered the largest Roman Ruins in the world outside Rome after Ephesus was abandoned around 7 AD. How did it happen? As silt was accumulated at the harbor mouth, the waterfront receded by 5km, thus making the harbor unnavigable. As the city was losing attractiveness as a trading port, people started leaving the city and the city citizens started using the stones to build a castle. As a result, Ephesus once with a population of 300,000 inhabitants became ruins. Now, it is called Selchuk and is one of the famous places in Turkey which attract many tourists.
The ruins in Ephesus were magnificent in scale and fabulous in beauty. We saw the famous Library, walked on Marble Street, passed through Agora, sat down and imagined the uproar against Paul at the Amphitheater, envisioned people using Lactrines in the open air in the Roman Public Bath House, and passed through the Hercules Gate. All the stories and ancient lives came to life again through the imagination. Marvellous!!!
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| Latrines |
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| Library |
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| Marble Street |
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| Amphitheater seating up to 24,000 people |
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