Admire the ancient cities that have been preserved and have survived to the present day. One of these is the city of Ephesus — the largest ancient city in Turkey, and the second most important ancient city in the Mediterranean after Pompeii.
Ephesus is one of the most visited attractions in Turkey. I think this place is definitely worth visiting while in this country. Just imagine, the city of Ephesus was created in the 2nd millennium BC by the Ionians and has survived to this day in good preservation. Two hundred thousand people once lived here. The city became famous all over the world thanks to one of the seven wonders of the world – the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, who was considered the goddess of fertility. To date, only one column has been preserved from the temple. The city of Ephesus is also a former center of early Christianity. The life of the Apostle Paul took place here, he preached right there, and in this place the earthly path of the Virgin Mary ended.
When you get to the ancient city of Ephesus and walk along its marble streets between ancient buildings, you seem to be soaked in the time when the city was alive, and then an amazing, but at the same time unforgettable feeling of admiration covers you.
Varius Thermae
Acquaintance with the ancient city of Ephesus begins with the preserved thermae Varius.
Odeon Theatre
There is also a small Odeon theater, from the height of which you can see stunning views of the Varius baths in combination with green mountains.
Kuretov Avenue
There is the longest and most majestic street in the city — Kuretov Avenue, along which you will have to walk. It is decorated with columns, sculptures, mosaics and the remains of residential buildings.
Library Celsius
The Celsius Library deserves great attention, from which the two-tiered facade with columns has been preserved. On the first tier, the columns symbolize Virtue and Justice. The library is named after the architect’s father of this building.
Brothel
A brothel is connected to the library by a passage underground. This is done in order for men to hide from their wives where they are going, saying that they are going to the library.
The Temple of Adriana
From the majestic structure of the Temple of Adriana, two central columns supporting the arch remained. The elegance of the sculptural ornament catches the eye. And once there were sculptures dedicated to the Roman emperors in front of the Temple.
Antique Amphitheater
The preserved ancient Amphitheater, accommodating up to 25 thousand spectators, is impressive. In the Roman era, gladiatorial fights took place here. And thanks to the excellent acoustics, it is clearly audible, both on all tiers and outside the hall.
Temple of Artemis in Ephesus
Unfortunately, only one column has survived from the famous Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, which is one of the seven wonders of the world, where the stork is so conveniently located. And there were only 127 columns that supported the roof of marble slabs. In the Istanbul miniature park there is a mini-replica of the temple of Artemis, respectively, there you can see how it looked before.
How great it is in the modern world to go back to ancient times and get an idea of the past splendor of ancient times.
TIPS for a trip to the city of Ephesus:
- If you can’t stand the heat, choose the months when there is no scorching sun: May-early June and September-October. At this time, there will not be as many tourists as in the season itself (July-August).
- Drinking water
- Comfortable shoes
- In hot weather, sunscreen, there is nowhere to hide from the sun
I wish you bright impressions!
Author Olga Avrakh
Photo Olga Avrakh
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