Ephesus

The Ephesus Antic City (Ephesos) is a complete Roman City only 1 hour drive from Izmir with baths, library, theater, gymnasium, temples and fountains. Founded by the Carians, Ephesus was one of the 12 Ionian Cities. It was conquered by Alexander the Great at 335 BC and prospered during the Hellenistic period. It passed to Roman Empire in 133 BC and became the capital of Asia Minor (province of Asia). Ephesus lies only 10 km to Selcuk and only 20 km to Kusadasi. This huge Roman site, one of the best preserved ancient cities in the world will take a whole day to see every part in detail.

Soon after the entering Ephesus you will see the ruins of Vedius Gymnasium, which was built by a rich local businessman in the late 2nd century BC, in the name of Vedius Antonius. It is a magnificent structure, built as a venue for sporting events and cultural education and contains practice fields and dressing rooms, baths, a courtyard and a ceremonial room in the centre of the Gymnasium. To the south of the Gymnasium is the Stadium, where races, games, and Olympic events took place.

After passing the Stadium you will come across the Byzantines public baths. Near the Byzantine public baths, the church holds special importance in Christian history. Being built between the 2nd and 4th centuries AD, it was originally a museum and a venue for educational courses and discussions. The church was destroyed by a fire in the 4th century AD and rebuilt as a brand new church, which became the venue of the third Ecumenical Council in 431 AD. It is the first church which is dedicated to Virgin Mary. According to the ancient church historians, Virgin Mary visited Ephesus towards the end of her life at 45 AD with St. Paul and the local Christians of Ephesus built her a small house near Ephesus. (also, in 1967, Pope Paul VI. visited Ephesus).

Beyond the church is the Arcadiane Way, a huge wide street over 500 meters long and 11 meters wide. Named after the 5th century Byzantine Emperor Arcadius who renovated it, it was the street which ran towards the port, and where kings were greeted and religious ceremonies took place. The 400 meter long Marble Street, also known as the Sacred Way, begins at the base of the amphitheatre and runs along the agora and Serapis Temple. The Marble Street was rebuilt during the 5th century.

The Ancient Theater of Ephesus is one of most beautiful and best preserved of all the Ephesus ruins. The theater, now, is used as the venue for the annual Ephesus Festival. With a capacity of over 25,000 spectators, it was built during the Hellenistic period, with reconstruction continuing during Empire Claudius times, and finalised between in 116 AD.

The other marble floored street of Ephesus starts from Magnesia gate placed at south-east of Ephesus and lie towards the Koresos gate placed at north-west of Ephesus, is approximately 450 meters long street is rebuilt in the 5th AD.

The famous Celcius Library which is maybe the most important point of the Ephesus ruins, is adjacent to the commercial Agora, built by Asian consul Gaius Julius Aquila, in 135 AD, in memory of his father who is entombed there. In a building showing all the characteristics of the Roman architecture, the front is decorated with replicas of statues of four women between the front columns, symbolising mind, destiny, science and wisdom. The original columns are unfortunately in the Vienna Museum.