EFES

*Ephesus (Selcuk)

The ancient city of Ephesus, within the borders of Selçuk District of Izmir Province, was first founded in B.C. It goes back to 6000 years ago. During the research and excavations carried out in recent years, mounds (prehistoric hill settlements) around Ephesus and settlements from the Bronze Age and Hittites were identified on Ayasuluk Hill, where the castle is located. During the Hittite Period, the name of the city was Apasas. B.C. The port city of Ephesus, where immigrants from Greece began to live in 1050 B.C. It was moved around the Temple of Artemis in 560. Ephesus, which is visited today, was built by Lysimachus, one of Alexander the Great's generals, in the 3rd century BC. It was founded around 300 years ago. Ephesus, which experienced its most glorious times during the Hellenistic and Roman periods, had a population of 200,000 people as the capital and largest port city of the Asian province. Ephesus moved again during the Byzantine Period and came to Ayasuluk Hill in Selçuk, where it was first established.

 

What is the most important feature of the ancient city of Ephesus?

 

Ephesus, which was the main gateway between the East and the West, was an important port city. This location enabled Ephesus to develop as the most important political and commercial center of its age and to become the capital of the Asia province during the Roman Era. Ephesus does not owe its importance in ancient times only to this. The largest temple of the Artemis cult, based on the ancient Anatolian mother goddess (Cybele) tradition, is also located in Ephesus. The Temple of Artemis in Ephesus is considered one of the seven wonders of the world. Ephesus was an ancient Greek city, later an important Roman city, located on the west coast of Anatolia, 3 km away from today's Selçuk district. It was one of the twelve cities of Ionia during the classical Greek period. Its foundation dates back to the Neolithic Age, 6000 BC. Ayasuluk, which was captured by the Turks in 1330 and was the center of the Aydınoğulları, started to shrink gradually from the 16th century, took the name Selçuk after the establishment of our Republic in 1923, and today it is a touristic place with a population of 30,000 people. Ephesus, one of the most important centers of the ancient world, BC. Throughout its history dating back to the 4th millennium, it has always played an important role in the fields of civilization, science, culture and art. Since Ephesus moved many times throughout its history, its ruins are spread over a wide area. Excavation-restoration and arrangement works have been carried out in these ruins, which spread over an area of approximately 8 km², and are open to visitors.

 

1- Ayasuluk Hill (The earliest settlement dates back to the 3rd millennium BC and the Church of St. Jean, which dates back to the Byzantine Era and is of great importance for the Christian world)

 

2- Artemision (An important religious center dating back to the 9th-4th centuries BC; the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the world)

 

3- Ephesus (Archaic-Classical-Hellenistic-Roman and Byzantine Period settlement)

 

4- Selçuk (Seljuk, Ottoman Period settlement and the modern city that hosts this settlement, which is an important tourism center today), Ephesus, which was an important civilization center in the Ancient Age, is still an important tourism center visited by an average of 1.5 million people a year.

 

The first archaeological excavations in Ephesus were carried out by J.T. on behalf of the British Museum. It was started by Wood in 1869. Wood's efforts to find the famous Temple of Artemis were continued by D.G. after 1904. Hogarth continued. The excavations in Ephesus by the Austrians, which continue their work today, were first started by Otto Benndorf in 1895. The work of the Austrian Archaeological Institute, which was interrupted during the First and Second World Wars, continued uninterruptedly after 1954. In addition to the work of the Austrian Archaeological Institute in Ephesus, the Ephesus Museum has also been held by the Republic of Turkey since 1954. It continues excavation, restoration and arrangement works on behalf of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

 

Must-See Ephesus Ancient City Buildings:

 

Gate of Magnesia

 

Eastern Gymnasium and State Agora Baths

 

Upper Agora (State Agora) and Basilica

 

Odeon

 

Prytaneion - Prytaneion (Town Hall)

 

Temple of Domitian

 

Pollio Fountain

 

Monument to Memmius

 

Gate of Hercules

 

Curetes Street

 

Scholastica Baths

 

Latrine

 

Trajan's Fountain

 

Hillside Houses

 

Varius Baths

 

Temple of Hadrian (Temple of Hadrian)

 

Public Toilet (Latrina)

 

House of Love

 

Stoa of Alytarch

 

octagon

 

Heroon

 

Marble Street

 

Celcus Library

 

Mazeus

 

Mithridates Gate

 

Tetragonos Agora (Commerce Agora)

 

Marble Street

 

Grand Theater

 

Liman Street (Arcadiane)(Arkadiane Street)

 

Theater Gymnasium

 

Harbor Bath (Port Gymnasium and Baths)

 

Virgin Mary Church

 

Çifte Churches (Consul Church)

 

Palace Building

 

Stadium Street (Stadium and Gymnasium)

 

The Temple of Artemis

 

Vedius Gymnasium

 

Seven Sleepers

 

Church of St.Jean

 

İsa Bey Mosque

 

Ayasuluk Castle