Ephesus

 

 

Ephesus is the best-preserved classical city on the Mediterranean, and perhaps the best place in the world to get the feeling for what life was like in Roman times. As a strategic coastal gateway to the Eastern World, this Ionian refuge grew to be the second largest city in the Roman Empire, the site of a Christian shrine, and one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Legend has it that the Virgin Mary, accompanied by St. Paul, came to Ephesus at the end of her life, circa 37-45 AD. Renaissance church historians mentioned the trip, and it is said that local Christians venerated a small house near Ephesus as Mary's. In 1967 Pope Paul VI. visited the site, where a chapel now stands, and confirmed the authenticity of the legend. Also the Basilica of St. John is located near Ephesus. St. John is said to have lived the last years of his life here and after his death, a shrine was located over his grave.

Ephesus was once a port city, but long ago the river silted up its harbor, leaving it in a marshland, which eventually caused the abandonment of the city, probably due to health issues such as malaria. The ruins are now over three miles from the sea. The main marble walking street, called Arcadian Way, was lined with shops and porticoes and led down to the harbor. It was on this street that Cleopatra made her triumphal entry into Ephesus to visit Mark Anthony. The large theatre at Ephesus could hold 25,000 spectators. It was originally a Hellenistic theatre which was expanded in Roman times. Ephesus was a very modern city with a fresh water supply and sewer along with public baths. Ephesus was home to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: The Temple of Artemis. Little remains of that temple but several statues of Artemis were found in the ruins.