Ephesus
One of the highlights of our visit to Turkey was to view the gleaming marble monuments of Ephesus. This has to be one of the best-preserved ancient cities of the Mediterranean. Set on a sheltered harbour at the mouth of the river Ephesus it was origina
lly built by immigrant Athenians in 1000BC and dedicated to Artemis. The temple was recognised as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
It was a great trading city that became a Roman provincial capital. Successive emperors vied with each other to beautify Ephesus. The town attracted a sizeable Christian congregation. Both St John and St Paul preached here. The city was the location for two church councils. Paul wrote some of his most famous letter to the Ephesians.
The site location kept changing due to silting at the coastline. Very fertile plains have been formed from the extensive silting. From the site one can see extensive wheat fields, orchards of peaches and cherries, olive groves and vegetables
plots. Another pastoral setting we encountered was the familiar scene of men and their dogs attending their sheep in the rich pastures.
The whole ruined city is awesome in its sheer beauty and splendour. Form the impressive Temple of Hadrian fronted by Corinthian columns, to the Baths of Scholastica with their public communal toilets and beautifully draped headless statue of the bath’s benefactor to the early terraced houses homes of the Ephesians in Roman imperial and early Byzantine period are a sight to behold. The decorated airy frescoed mosaic houses give an idea how the well-to-do lived. The city’s brothel, on Marble Avenue, is marked by a footprint in the stone and some graphic decoration. The library of Celsus is one of the best-restored buildings. The library once housed 12,000 scrolls that were stored in niches in the walls. Sadly the Goths destroyed the library in 262ad. The massive theatre could seat 24,000. As well as watching plays from here people heard St Paul preach.
This city lovingly restored and preserved has numerous buildings, statues, gates and streets and it is a miracle that after so many attacks on it down through the ages it still stands a proud testimony to its ancient rulers.
St John’s Tomb and Chur
ch
St John was the founder of the Ephesus Church which we visited. After the death of Jesus he came to Ephesus with Mary and strived to make this new Christian religion popular. He was buried after his death on the Hill Ayasuluk and upon it a Basilica was built in the 4th century by the emperor Justinien. People form distant lands came her in the Middle Ages to be cured.
House of the Virgin Mary
The highlight of the trip for me, which was a very moving personal experience, was a visit to the House of Mary. Here in this serene, tranquil place in the mountains from which the sea and islands are visible on clear days Mary spent the last years of her life in the company of John. Jesus entrusted her to John before he died on the cross at Calvary. “John behold thy Mother,” He said.
The house has been reconstructed only the lower layer of red brick is original. The house is in the form of a small chapel with a cross plan. The black marble visible on the floor shows the location of the stove. It appears that the coal found on excavation dated from the 1st century. The room on the right side is the bedroom of Mary.
It is a place of pilgrimage quiet peaceful serene – it is a special place, respected by visitors regardless of their religion or beliefs.
