A Kusadasi lover..
Nowadays, people are no more interested in going to mountanious regions for their vacations. Instead people are now getting interested in going to different types of places, those that have a cultural heritage, and those that have some religous history. One of such places is Ephesus. People from all around the world, especially Americans are getting inclined towards this ancient city. There are a number of Private Ephesus Tours, among which there are the options of full day tours, and those of half day tours. The full day tour consists of a 7 to 8 hour journey , covering the ancient city of Ephesus, which is known to be the commercial centre of Anatolia. The tour would also include a visit to the Temple of Artemision which is considered as one of the wonders of the world. Other religious places to visit include the Basilica of St. John and House of Virgin Mary, which is the place where Mary is known to spend her last days of life. So overall, the tour can be really interesting, and the rates may vary. There are different rates for individuals travelling, and different for groups. It is always best to go round the ancient city by private packages, which can make the journey more enjoyable.
Along with the tour of the city, visiting the cultural and religious sites, the tour also includes the Ephesus Shore Excursions. These shore excursions on the cruise line is amazing part of the journey. Many people, who plan to visit Turkey, make their cruise expedition in which they cover the city of Ephesus. Enjoying the various adventurous, cultural and natural places, sailing across the water, relaxing under the open sky, is an amzing part of the journey, and must not be missed when going on a tour to Ephesus.
Soke is not a tourist town and does not seem to be in a rush to make itself one. It is on the Aegean coast of Turkey and is a short drive from the holiday resorts of Altinkum and Kusadasi. Alternatively, you could visit there if you are on your way to Izmir, Ephesus or Selcuk as Soke has a major bus station which is a stopover point for many people traveling by bus.
I have been to Soke many times before but never actually walked around. So on this particular day, I had a four hour wait until my bus arrived and took the opportunity to explore this town that I had taken for granted for nearly seven years. By the way, If you do visit Soke then I recommend spending a day there but not a night. There are only three hotels and they are used by ladies of the night or men that are playing away from home.
Having walked around for the day, my impression of Soke has changed. It is a town that is stuck between two eras. I spotted a horse drawn cart in the town. If you buy items from a shop and cannot carry them, they will call the owner of the horse drawn cart who turns up, loads the items onto the cart, and delivers you and your purchases to your house. You simply pay him a small fee.
Of course, I am a sucker for animals and immediately went over and asked if I could take pictures. “No problem” says the man who is sitting there without a care in the world. As I am taking pictures, he suddenly jolts and stands up quickly. His mobile phone is ringing. He answers it, mutters a few words, puts it back into his pocket and then explains to me that he has to dash. A customer is waiting. After watching the horse drawn cart pull out onto the main road, I then watched a Mercedes Benz which was coming up behind him; reduce his speed so that he would not frighten the horse.
If you go to the old part of Soke then you will find old stone houses that have been there for three generations at least. The toilet is in the courtyard but you cannot miss the unit for the remote control air conditioning or the satellite dish placed on the roof. In the main town of soke, I also found an old tomb that I never knew was there. I knew the tomb belonged to someone with status though, as it was in a mini building. Apparently in years gone by, all the coffins of influential people of the town were placed in this area. All of them have been removed and placed in graveyards apart for this one person. Trying to find out information about who it is though, has been near enough impossible. If you know, please tell me.
1 – Army base. Lots of youngsters from outside of Soke will head there to complete their compulsory national service of 15 months.
2 – Cotton fields. Travel through at the height of summer and you will see white fields for as far as the eye can travel. The modern farmer will have an automatic cotton picking tractor. The other farmers will give jobs to the many people that flock from the East and set up home on the road side. Likely hood is that many of your cotton clothes and products bought in the western world, started off in one of the many cotton fields of Soke.
3 – Brand name factories. After cotton, Soke is also famous for its factories which employ a large number of people in the town. Levis, Nike, Adidas and for all those hungry shoppers there is a McDonalds or Starbucks.
4 – The Wednesday market. A big market that attracts local from surrounding towns and tourists from the surrounding holiday resorts of Altinkum and Kusadasi.
5 – Çöp sis which is pronounced chirp shish. This is cubed lamb or beef on skewers, served with salad, grilled tomato and onion. On the roads going out of Soke there are dozens of places that serve only Çöp sis
Overall, Soke is well worth a visit if you want to experience Turkey which is untouched by tourism. Expect to see two different world blended into one.
Turkey‘s largest and one of the cosmopolitan holiday sea meet in the Aegean region of the coastal strip, Kusadasi. Entertainment venues and shopping centers, big cities charge a million non-Kusadasi has a population of summer season is approaching.
Two tourist ships, iron in Kusadasi and also performed with the capacity of 650 yacht marina are the pier Because of the large port city to our ship and yacht charters from the tourists. From the Greek island of Samos (Samos), Kuşadası, a spring and summer months (1 April-20 October, every day), regular passenger flights to the engine. The harbour of the daily and hourly tour of the Blue Tour, as passenger engines, picnic at the yachts.
Tourists from all over the world, which attracts interest in Kusadasi, in harmony with the date. The name of the city centre, located in front of the magnificent sunset views from the field, the city of pigeon Island onlookers fascinated. A Harbor on the island to the Mainland with a fortress of the Byzantine period remaining provided the connection to the Pigeon.
In the North to the South, bounded by the Selçuk and Pamucak, Dilek Peninsula Community Centre; Izmir, Didim, Pamukkale, Ephesus, Miletus, the Virgin Mary, as well as important tourist centers are the focus of the Marmaris, Bodrum.
Apart from the great historical beauties around Kusadasi, the city is also preserves excellent examples of Ottoman and Turkish mosques, located in the centum. “The Fortress Mosque”, built by the vizier Okuz Mehmet Pasa in the 17th century, is the most impressing and monumental mosque in Kusadasi. Constructed in the area of 1800m2, the mosque has 550 person capacity. The main part of mosque is square-planned and covered by a large leaden dome- with the supports of 12 arches. Inner part of the dome is ornamented by geometrical designs and plant motives. The entrance door exemplifies the best of wood- working of Ottoman, decorated with mother of pearl. Between the 16 stained-glass windows, are the oil paintings decorated with Ion styled columns.
“The Hanim Mosque” was constructed in1658 in the name of Haji Hatice Hatun, but was destroyed in 1922. The mosque was rebuilt by the inhabitants of Kusadasi between the years of 1951-57. The foundation walls of the minaret belong to the original construction. The simply decorated mosque is surrounded by a leaden dome. “Haji Ibrahim Mosque” exemplifies a different 17 century style of Ottoman architecture. The wooden ceiling of rectangular planned mosque is covered by roof tiles. “The Turkmen Mosque” and “The Camiatik Mosque” are the other sights located inside the center of Kusadasi, in different districts.
According to the latest datum in 1995, the number of inhabitants in Kusadasi is about 50000. The population, consisting 99% Turks, increases rapidly with the beginning of the tourism season. The city has shown a rapid development an incredible growth since from the 1970′s, with the introducing of tourism.
The Kusadasi Setur Marina is one of the largest and best equipped marinas in Turkey with the capacity of 629 yachts both a float and on shore, visited between 2500-3000 boats each year. The marina is on the latitude of 37 52′ 20”N and on the longitude of 27 15′ 46”E. Custom, repair service, security are some of the 24 hour services in the marina.
Kusadasi has a typical Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters, providing a long tourism season. The city is bathed in sunshine for 300 days of the year. Numerous powdery sandy beaches with warm & clear waters, providing a peaceful atmosphere, allow a great variety of water and beach facilities. Windsurfing, water skiing, sailing and beach volley are only a few choice for the lovers of active life. After sunbathing restfully during the day, the city awaits the superb sunset. As the sun sets, the attractive cafes and restaurants through the palm-lined boulevard, get busier. It is a great delight to watch the comings and goings of the yachts and ships with accompanience of the panoramic view of the sunset, on a pre-drink before the dinner. The restaurants, serving a variety of fresh seafood &fish and Aegean specialties, offer a delicious meal in Kusadasi. Dancing and entertaining at a lively bar or a disco until dawn, may end an ideal day in Kusadasi.
Kusadasi resort is one of the great resorts of Turkey that offers excellent conditions for an unforgettable holiday (vacation) in first-class hotels and among the incredible scenery.
Kusadasi is located on the west coast of Turkey – 90 km south of Izmir and has a reputation as one of the most attractive cities of the Aegean Sea and is close to major tourist attractions, including the ancient city of Ephesus.
Literally translated, the city’s name means “bird island”, while is thought that its name originates from a small island with a stone, that is formmed like a bird head and is located at the old city port.
The resort has a typical Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters and over 300 sunny days a year, allowing a longer tourist season.
Windsurfing, water skiing, sailing and beach volleyball are only a small part of all of the fans who enjoy the active life. During the evenings, when the sun sets, the attractive cafes along the boulevard become alive, and the restaurants offer different types of fresh fish delicacies and Aegean specialties. If you decide you can have fun at the end of the evening in a lively bar or a disco dancing until dawn, this could be the perfect ending of any day. All these extras makes Kusadasi an attractive tourist destination in Turkey, visited by thousands of people annually.
Kusadasi hotels are one of the best in the world and in our opinion very cheap by comparison with other hotels of the same class in Asia and Europe and offer a lot of facilities and services: windsurfing, beach vollleyball, scuba diving, tennis, wonderful hotel swimming-pools, amusing programs for the kids, horse riding, golf and so on.
It is a good idea to try to find promotional travel packages for 7 days for your holiday in Kusadasi as early as possible because it will cost you less to stay in the first-class hotels in the resort or others.
Kusadasi is a major Aegean resort town and cruise ship port. Being so close to the renowned ruins in Ephesus Turkey , it gets more than its share of Turkish and foreign visitors.
Once a sleepy farming village, Kusadasi (koo-SHAH-dah-suh) was transformed by the Turkish tourism boom of the 1980s. It’s now a busy resort with a beach along the waterfront boulevard in town and several other beaches north and south of the town. Kusadasi tend to be crowded in the summer.
Scores of hotels provide for the sun-seekers.
The prime beach—rather narrow, and backed by city—is Ladies Beach (Kadınlar Plajı). Some visitors make the 15-minute, 8-km drive to nearby Pamucak Beach, which is wide, long and uncrowded, nearer to Ephesus, but with fewer services.
You can use Kusadasi Turkey as a base for visiting sights in the region such as Ephesus; Priene, Miletus and Didyma; Euromos; Pamukkale and Aphrodisias. Guided tours are available to all these places, or you can see them by yourself. More…
When a cruise ship is in port, Kusadasi’s transient population soars and the market teems with hagglers. If you’re arriving on a cruise ship and would like a good, reasonably-priced shore excursion like those mentioned above, contact Anker Travel, a trusted local tour operator, travel agency and TurkeyTravelPlanner.com partner.
In the evening, Kusadasi’s nightlife scene is lively, from the British- and Irish-themed bars to the cool jazz haunts.
Here’s a tip: pronounce the town’s name “koo-SHAH-dah-suh” if you want to sound like you know what you’re doing. That’s the correct Turkish pronunciation. (The clueless pronounce it “KOOS-uh-DASS-see.”) It means “Bird Island:” kus = bird, ada(si) = island.
Kusadasi Turkey
Kusadasi started out as small fishing village and has transformed into a popular, lively resort, with its cosmopolitan visitors and classy marina, frequented by cruise liners on a stop-over during their travels around the globe. It has its own sandy beach, but not far away is the famous golden sands of ‘Ladies Beach’. In the evenings the quaint, authentic old quarter bustles with shops and bazaars, along with easy-going bars and restaurants along the waterfront promenade, but if you want something a bit more lively look no further than ‘Bar Street’… Kusadasi is also ideally located close to one of the greatest archaeological sites in the world, ‘Ephesus’, as well the “Cotton Castle ” terraces of Pamukkale.
Many cruising ships travelling around the Aegean Islands stop here, especially because of its close proximity (20km) to Selcuk Kusadasi is a good base to explore this and other ancient cities like Ephesus, Priene and Didyma
Similar to a typical Mediterranean climate, the region has hot and dry summers, reaching around 30 degrees. The winters are cool and wet, and the nights can get cool and drop below 10 degrees.
According to ancient inscriptions, Ephesus is thought to have been inhabited since around 3000 BC, roughly the same time as Smyrna, and evidence of Ion, Roman, Byzantine, Seljukian and Ottoman civilisations are still seen today. The ancient city was a good centre for trading, mainly because of its location close to coast, and religion. It was known for the cult of Cybele, the Anatolian fertility goddess, then later for Artemis, the virgin goddess for which a temple was built in her honour.
The temple was destroyed in 356 BC, and when Alexander the Great passed through in 334 BC he offered to pay for the cost of a new construction provided it was dedicated to him. The Ephesus people declined, and rebuilt it with great success.
When the Romans made Ephesus their provincial capital, it became a busy town with great commercial, trading and political importance, and a population that grew to around 250,000. A significant Christian community grew, and the city was visited by St John the Evangelist in the 1st century, then by St Paul, who was there between 51-53 AD and wrote some of his epistles. It was also the venue of two Ecumenical Councils.
But the success of Roman Ephesus began to dwindle, mainly because of problems connected to the harbour, which was the main source of trade. The Cayster River was pushing silt up the harbour and despite attempts to dredge it and rebuild the harbour, the sea was pushed back to Pamucak, 4km away, and therefore Ephesus lost its source of wealth. By the 6th century, the city was unliveable and was shifted near to St John’s Basilica, and by 1090 it was taken over by the Turks.
According to the Gospel of John, as Jesus was hanging on the cross, He presented His beloved disciple John with the care of His mother, Mary. Four of six years after the death and resurrection of Jesus, St. John and Mary are thought to have come to Ephesus and stayed on the site of what is not the Church of the Council of 431. Later, John took Mary to a house he had built on Nightingale Mountain. This house where Mary is thought to have spent her last days was forgotten in time and fell to ruin. In the Middle Ages it was often claimed that the house was found but to no definite result. To Explore The ancient Ephesus Ruins have look at Ephesus Tours and find more related information.
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Cruise on down to Kusadasi
As the main port for cruise passengers bound for Ephesus, you could be forgiven for thinking this was just a place where people just pass through – but you’d be missing out on many of the resort’s own delights.
This modern-looking town on the Aegean coast of Turkey certainly knows how to look after its guests, which is why it has become a thriving resort in its own right. Kusadasi boasts a sophisticated marina and there are a number of beautiful golden sandy beaches within easy reach, such as the popular ‘Ladies Beach’ which, despite its name, is now open to one and all.
An attractive resort with respect for Turkish history
The bay area of Kusadasi is a great place to come and stay. This lively tourist spot has an abundance of character; on the seafront there are restaurants, bars and cafes with more of an old world vibe, in contrast to the rather more cosmopolitan centre.
If you do want to visit the archaeological sites of Ephesus or Didyma and explore the surrounding area, then Kusadasi is a good base to start from. There is also the opportunity to have fun on the rides in the local aqua parks and try out windsurfing and water skiing as you revel in this wonderful Mediterranean climate.
Have an unforgettable holiday when you stay in Kusadasi
When you find that the hotel you’ve booked is situated in a fine location, close to the shopping centre or near to the harbour area, and you are delighted with the hospitality you’ve received from the hotel staff, this can really make it the dream holiday you hoped it would be. At Holiday Mate, we can confidently say that there are some amazing hotels in Kusadasi.
If you book with the Turkish holiday specialist for your hotel requirements, you can do so safe in the knowledge that we have Turkish- as well as British- staff working for us in this country. This gives you peace of mind that we know have carefully selected the hotels in our database from personal experience.
Book your hotel in Kusadasi today with Holiday Mate and start to look forward to your stay in one of the principal resorts of the Turkish Riviera.
For family holidays, Turkey might sound like a relaxing prospect; the chance to unwind, soak up the sun and take in all the local attractions. However, the reality can sometimes very different to the daydream. Finding a destination that has enough to entertain the children, with a good mix of activities to keep mum and dad interested can be a tricky task. Luckily, we’ve found the perfect destination in Kusadasi.
Why it’s great for children…
The long sandy beach is a child’s paradise and the white powdery sand is ideal for building sandcastles. But whilst we all know that most children could happily sit on the beach for hours building sand palaces, the resort of Kusadasi has plenty to drag them away. Not least the azure blue ocean which offers a haven of water-sports, perfect for slightly older children. There are banana boat rides, jet skiing and yachting for the active, whilst the resort also offers three fantastic water parks.
One of the water parks, Adaland claims to be the largest in Europe and its fantastic dolphin shows ensures that it stands out from the competition. In between the dolphin displays there are plenty of log flume rides to keep the children entertained, from the wild kamikaze winder to the slightly gentler rainbow ride. On your family holidays, Turkey be sure to check out the park’s newest addition, Sea Park. Here children and adults can snorkel alongside tropical fish and even take part in a specialised dolphin encounter program.
Why it’s great for Dads….
Dads can be tricky when it comes to arranging family holidays, Turkey however has something for everyone. While mum is often perfectly content to spend hours sunbathing on the beach with the latest romantic novel, it’s fair to say that dads are usually after something a little more cultural. Therefore, Kusadasi is situated in the perfect location; Epheseus, Pammukale and Didyma are all less than a few hours’ drive away from the main resort. Epheseus is the closest historic attraction and it’s safe to say that a visit to Kusadasi just isn’t complete without taking a day trip. Another activity that’s bound to appeal to fathers and sons alike is the adrenaline-packed Jeep Safari.
This day-long action packed adventure takes in the mountains and valleys of Sirince and contains frequent water fights between the other jeeps. The Jeep Safari finishes at the Cave of Zeus, where the deep blue mineral water inside the cave makes it the perfect place to cool off at the end of an adrenaline packed day.
Why it’s great for Mums…..
The chance to relax and escape from the stresses and strains of daily life is why mums love family holidays. Turkey has plenty of sandy beaches for mums to unwind on, but whilst sunbathing on the beach may be all very well, if mums want proper relaxation then nothing beats an authentic Turkish bath experience. Whilst laid on a stone slab, a tellak will scrub and exfoliate your skin with a coarse mitt and some thick black soap.
A good tip is to visit the hamman on the first day of your holiday as the exfoliation will prepare mum’s skin for the sun, allowing her to tan more easily. The perfect ending to Turkey family holidays is a family meal at an attractive local restaurant. Try Bul Bul for delicious meze and succulent kebabs and then end your evening at the Dejazar Wine Bar which offers spectacular views out over the marina.
A Roman writer once called Ephesus Lumen Asiae, The Light of Asia. Ephesus, with a population of 300,000, was the chief commercial city of the province and the center of the mother goddess worship of western Asia. In the New Testament era it was the fourth greatest city in the world, after Rome, Alexandria in Egypt and Antioch of Syria.
“Ephesus was the Gateway of Asia. One of its distinctions, laid down by statute, was that when the Roman proconsul came to take up office as governor of Asia, he must disembark at Ephesus and enter his province there. For all the travelers and the trade, from the Cayster and the Maeander Valleys, from Galatia, from the Euphrates and from Mesopotamia, Ephesus was the highway to Rome. In later times, when the Christians were brought from Asia to be flung to the lions in the arena in Rome, Ignatius called Ephesus the Highway of the Martyrs.” (William Barclay, The Revelation Of John, Vol. 1, p. 58).
The apostle Paul first visited Ephesus on the return from his missionary journey where he “entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews” Acts 18:19-21.
On his second journey, Paul came to Ephesus and taught the twelve disciples who knew only the baptism of John (Acts 19:1-7) and “went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God” (Acts 19:8). He later taught in the school of Tryannus for two years, and as a result, “all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks” (Acts 19:9-10).
Ephesus was full of wizards, sorcerers, witches, astrologers, diviners of the entrails of animals and people who could read one’s fortune by the palm of the hand. And yet, after the preaching of Paul, the magicians publicly burned their books, “so the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed” (Acts 19:19-20). Timothy and Erastus were with Paul, but he sent them to Macedonia, while “he himself stayed in Asia for a time” (Acts 19:22).
At the end of his third missionary tour, in the spring of A.D. 57, Paul stopped briefly at Miletus, “for Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost” (Acts 20:16). Paul met with the elders of Ephesus at Miletus (Acts 20:17-38). In his final words to these elders he told them of his deep sorrow that they would see his face no more (Acts 20:38).
Ephesus once had a great harbor, but because of the lack of tides in the Mediterranean to clear out the debris, the harbor tended to silt up. It was probably from this harbor that Paul set sail for Macedonia after the Ephesian riot (Acts 20:1).
The main street of the city was the Arcadian Way which led from the harbor to the theater. The street was over 100 feet wide and paved with marble slabs. The street was often used for parades and ceremonies, and was flanked on either side by rows of columns 50 feet deep. The street was named in honor of the emperor Arcadius (A.D. 383-408) who enlarged and restored it. At night the street was lit by lanterns.
The great theater at Ephesus gives us some idea of the elegance of the ancient city in the time of Paul. The construction began during the reign of Claudies (A.D. 41-54) and was completed during the reign of Trajan (A.D. 98-117). This massive structure measured 495 feet in diameter and seated an estimated 25,000 people. The great uproar over Diana of the Ephesians took place here (Acts 19).
The Library of Celsus built in A.D. 135 by Julius Aguila in memory of his father, Celsus, who was a Roman senator and governor-general of the province of Asia. Here thousands of parchments and papyri were stored, protected from dampness and worms by a double wall. Estimates of the number of rolls that could be stored in the library vary from 9,500 to 12,000. Celsus was a lover of books and was given the honor of being buried, not only within the city, but in the vault of his own library among his books. On the first floor of its façade there stood four female statues representing wisdom, fortune, knowledge, and virtue.
Another important street was Curetes Street, which derived its name from the Curetes (priests), who guarded the sacred fire of the hestia (hearth) in the prytaneion. The Curetes were a college of priests attached to the service of Artemis. Many inscriptions and reliefs may be seen along the street, including a relief representing Nike, the goddess of victory, with a wreath in her left hand and a spike in the right. The most beautiful building on Curetes Street is the Temple of Hadrian (A.D. 117-138). The Fountain of Trajan (A.D. 98-117) is located on the northern end of the street — it was dedicated to the Emperor Trajan at the end of the first century.
The Odeion in Ephesus had 22 tiers and accommodated over 1500 spectators. Here musicians played their flutes, lyres, and citharas, and poets recited from Homer.
The disturbance over Diana of the Ephesians is one of the most promintent stories in the book of Acts (Acts 19:23-41). There were 33 temples in the Greco-Roman world where Diana was worshiped. After Paul’s preaching in Ephesus had harmed the local silversmiths who made stautes of Diana, Paul’s companions, Gaius and Aristarchus, were dragged into the theater. The disciples would not allow Paul to go into the assembly.
“The Temple of Artemis (or Diana, according to her Roman name) at Ephesus ranked as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. As the twin sister of Apollo and the daughter of Zeus, Artemis was known variously as the moon goddess, the goddess of hunting, and the patroness of young girls. The temple at Ephesus housed the multi-breasted image of Artemis which was reputed to have come directly from Zeus (Acts 19:35). The temple of Artemis in Paul’s day was supported by 127 columns, each of them 60 meters (197 feet) high. The Ephesians took great pride in this grand edifice. During the Roman period, they promoted the worship of Artemis by minting coins with the inscription, ‘Diana of Ephesus.’” (Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 345-346).
The temple was four times as large as the Parthenon. Pliny the Elder (A.D. 23-79) said the temple was constructed on marshy soil to safeguard it against earthquakes.
“For over a thousand years this goddess with her temple provided a focal point for the rich religious, economic, and cultural life of her worshippers. Now hardly one stone can be seen of one of the most famous buildings in the world, the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus. Built on marshy ground not far from the Cayster River, it arose on a site occupied from time to time by several temples of which at least one dates from pre-Greek days. It faced west, toward the sea and the setting sun. Pliny the Younger tells us that the columns in front of the temple were carved with notable events in the life of the Greeks and that the statue of Artemis stood in the inner sanctuary. Some of the statuary from this temple is displayed in the New Hofburg Museum in Vienna. This temple was the first in the world to be constructed entirely of marble.” (Everett Blake and Anna Edmonds, Biblical Sites In Turkey, p. 119).
“After years of archeological research the ruins of the temple were discovered in 1877 by J. T. Wood. The platform on which the temple stood was 418 by 239 feet, and the temple itself was 342 by 163 feet and had over one hundred columns supporting its roof.” (Homer Hailey, Revelation, An Introduction And Commentary, p. 120).
The Hellenistic temple which Paul saw was destroyed in A.D. 262.
“The original temple of Diana crumbled into the dust many centuries ago. It was rebuilt and became one of the seven wonders of the world. It was to this temple Alexander came. The Macedonian wanted his name carved on one of the 127 pillars. He offered all the riches of his eastern campaign for the privilege. The city fathers turned down the offer. But nobody refused Alexander. The Ephesians did. They talked him into a calm acceptance by saying ‘If we put the name of another god on her temple it will upset her.’ So the mightiest mortal on earth couldn’t even buy the privilege to have his name on a pillar in the temple of a god. Years later Paul wrote to a group of Ephesians telling them they were the temple (not of a god) but of the Almighty God.” (Jim McGuiggan, The Book Of Revelation, p. 44).
“The goddess who had largely given Ephesus its wealth and importance — so that it was a kind of Lourdes of the ancient world — was at the core of so much human thinking. She derived from those early manifestations of religious belief, the mother-goddess figures to be found from Asia Minor to the Cyclades, and westward to Sicily. The embodiment of the female principle, she represented not only fertility but resurrection in the shape of new birth, the eternal return of life to the earth and, as found in a number of early carvings, the ‘Tree of Life’. As Isis she bore the divine son, Horus; and as Artemis she was the Mother of Wild Things, the goddess of all animals. The Isis-Artemis conception embraced everything. It could be taken at any level; from the simple peasant’s conception of the divinity who would ensure that his beasts and land were fruitful, to the intellectual idea of an all-creating mother who sustained the whole universe.” (Ernle Bradford, Paul The Traveler, pp. 194-195).
Ephesus is the grandest of the ruined ancient cities of modern Turkey’s antiquity. It was the most important city in the entire Roman province of Asia Minor. It is located on Turkey’s southwestern coast, a little east of the bustling commercial city of Izmir formerly known as Smyrna. A Silting River Kills Ancient Ephesus was once a thriving port city but silting of the harbour from the deposits carried by the Cayster River caused the port to progressively move seaward.
The retreating harbour presently six miles from the city ruins, meant that shipping was no longer tenable and as trade ships preferred Smyrna, so too did the Ephesians move out and eventually the magnificent city was fully abandoned. Early History of the City The modern ruins are particularly spectacular with the remains of what was an eleven metre wide paved road lined with fine marble columns running through the city, past the great theatre, the baths, the ornate library, and the agora.
However, before the Romans so beautifully built Ephesus, Ionian colonists around the 10th century BC augmented the original Anatolian settlement. Archaeologists have had great difficulty convincing Turkish authorities to permit the deep excavation of the site to obtain more data about this period. The ruins attract millions of visitors annually and there is a heightened fear that open excavation would destroy the tangible, visible, upper record and possibly devastate tourism.
Archaeological evidence concludes that the initial major settlements were established and continuously occupied from the 3rd Millennium BC. These Bronze Age settlers, at Ephesus, included the Mycenaean traders and later occupations built the Sanctuary of Artemis around 800 BC. The Roman Period Ephesus is best known for its archaeologically excavated Roman architecture. Archaeologists have discovered that during the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus, in 20 – 10 BC, a wholesale renovation was undertaken of the market area known in Latin as the Agora.
The old Hellenistic marketplace was raised 1.5 metres and a new quadrangular agora was constructed with sides exceeding 100 metres long. This open market was surrounded by two-storied, colonnaded stoa, 17 metres deep, bringing the total structure to more than 154 metres long.
Smart Leaders
Ephesian rulers curried the favour of Roman Emperors by constructing and dedicating temples and monuments to them. The remains of the temple dedicated to Julius Caesar was first erected in 29 BC. The deification of Rome’s elite birthed the reign of the Emperor Cults. In return for being so honoured the Emperors further beautified the city with funds collected from elsewhere in the Empire.
Coins excavated from the site are struck with the titles “First and Greatest Metropolis in Asia” and “First of All the Great Ones”. By this time, in Ephesian history, archaeologists believe the city was at its height with a population of around 250,000 permanent residents.
Idol Worship
The agora was the commercial hub of Ephesian trade. The city’s chief industry was the supply of idols to pilgrim worshippers who travelled to Ephesus from all parts of the world to pay homage at the city’s great god temples such as Diana.
Hundreds of fertility god artefacts have been located in these areas. These miniature replicas of the gods were said to charm away evil spirits and provide protection to its devotee owners. Idols of this nature brought great profit to Ephesian artisans. Among other similar artefacts that have been archaeologically excavated are scrolls about magic, mysticism, and incantations. These writings are known as the ‘Ephesian Letters’ and contain magical remedies for illness, infertility, and ensured prosperity.
Burning the Scrolls
These magic letters should not be confused with the widely known ‘Epistle to the Ephesians’ written in the first century AD by the Hebrew evangelist, Sha’ul. However, another author makes reference to the mystical scrolls in the biblical book of Acts. In chapter 19 the apostle, Luka, tells of the public burning of the scrolls used in sorcery. The value of the loss is calculated at 50,000 drachmas.
As one drachma equalled a man’s daily wage this would make the equivalent value today around four million pounds. Such a sizable deliberate loss would not be acceptable had something not deeply influenced and altered the pagan culture of Roman Ephesus.
The Circle of Seven
Ephesus, being the major port access, was the first on a list of seven cities that formed a circle clockwise into inland Asia Minor. Archaeologists have discovered the remains of the ancient Roman Road that stretched from Ephesus to Laodicea, the last of the seven cities. Starting at the great city, the roads form a geographic semi-circle connecting all seven cities on what functioned as an ancient postal route.
A letter, written in the first century AD, to the Christians of wealthy, pampered, and pagan Ephesus, rebukes them for forsaking their first love and mixing the Ephesian cult worship with the truth that they had first received. Papyrus fragments, found at Oxyrhynchus, of copies of 3rd and 4th century manuscripts are held in the Papyrology Rooms, of the Sackler Library in Oxford, England.
Archaeologists have not uncovered any Christian places of gathering at Ephesus earlier than the third century AD. It appears that early believers in the Jewish Messiah met in private homes or in public places. Their magnificent, opulent surroundings and the ingrained pagan cult culture was an ever-present temptation to their simple lives that eventually overcame them.
