| |
|
ALL TURKEY TOURS |
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
INFORMATION |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
EPHESUS;
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 till 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 : 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.
|
|
