TURKEY'S MAGICAL HIDEAWAYS
May 22 - June 7, 2009
Page 20
Mediterranean Cruise, Aegean Sea, and Ephesus
Some of us swam in the Aegean Sea from our hotel's beach area. Then, as we did most evenings in Turkey,
we met at the bar for wine and snacks before dinner at the restaurant in the hotel. The bar area overlooked
the harbor. Shown in the picture are Dottie and Paul, with Lynne, Nancy, and Jerry behind them.
An auditorium at Ephesus. Ephesus is a famous ruined city. A Greek city was first built here around 1000 BC.
It rose to fame as a center for the worship of Cybele, the Anatolian Mother Goddess. The city seen today
was founded in the 4th century BC by Alexander the Great's successor Lysinachus. But it was under the Romans
that Ephesus became the chief port on the Aegean, and most of the surviving structures date from this period.
As the harbor silted up, the city declined but played an important role in the spread of Christianity. As noted
earlier, it is said that the Virgin Mary spent her last days nearby. After the death of Jesus, followers of Christ
were subjected to persecution. To avoid persecution, St. John left Jerusalem and came to Ephesus. Except for
the time he was exiled to the nearby island of Patmos, where he may have written the Book of Revelation,
he lived the remainder of his life around Ephesus. The auditorium shown here was used in the morning
for political discussions and in the evening for music.
Bull statue at the inner city of Ephesus, that had large bathhouses, temples, and fountains.
Public latrine area at Ephesus.
Library of Celsus at Ephesus, built in 114-117 AD. The library was damaged first by the Goths and then
by an earthquake in 1000.
View of friezes at the top of the library
Pat and Heather in front of the Library of Celsus - The library held 12,000 parchment books and was the
largest library of its time. Books covered the 2-story walls and ladders were used to retrieve them.
Carved into the side of Mt Pion during the Hellenistic period, this theater was later renovated by the Romans.
This theater was built around 98 AD. It held 24,500 people. The entire city of Ephesus may have had about
240,000 residents.
Link to next page of Mediterranean Cruise - Page 21
Link to first page of Drive from Cappadocia to Fethiye on the Mediterranean - Page 11
Link to first page of Cappadocia - Page 6
Link to Page One of Turkey- Istanbul
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