Ephesus Ruins — Turkey

After docking in Izmir, Turkey early this morning, we all caught a taxi for a one hour ride to the ruins of Ephesus. We also made a short stop at what is supposed to be the last home of Mary, the mother of Jesus. 

The house of Mary. 

Because of the distance that we needed to travel each direction and because of the fairly short timeline that we’re in port, we had a quick tour of the ruins.

The drive was very beautiful each direction. There are mountains and valleys along the whole drive. It was very agricultural: olives, fruit trees, citrus, and even tomatoes. The agriculture seemed very similar to that of the Central Valley

Ruins of Ephesus:

We also made a short stop to a beautiful ceramic shop that was owned by a family. They had a lot of beautiful things to purchase. It was quite expensive, but probably worth the money.

We were able to get back on board by about 2 o’clock. We headed straight up to the hamburger bar.

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History of Ephesus courtesy of ChatGPT:

Ephesus, located in modern-day Turkey near the town of Selçuk, was an ancient Greek city that later became a major Roman metropolis. Its history spans over 3,000 years:

1. Foundation and Early History: Ephesus was founded by Greek colonists around the 10th century BCE, though earlier settlements existed in the area. It became a prominent Ionian city.

2. Archaic and Classical Periods: The city flourished, especially due to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Ephesus became a center for religion and commerce.

3. Hellenistic Period: After being conquered by Alexander the Great in the 4th century BCE, Ephesus experienced significant growth. Under the rule of the Seleucid and Pergamon kingdoms, it developed further.

4. Roman Era: In 133 BCE, Ephesus became part of the Roman Empire and reached its peak in the 1st and 2nd centuries CE. It was a major port city, famous for its Theatre of Ephesus, Celsus Library, and bustling markets.

5. Early Christianity: Ephesus holds religious significance as it was visited by St. Paul, who preached there, and it is traditionally believed to be the final home of Mary, the mother of Jesus, near the House of the Virgin Mary.

6. Decline: Over time, Ephesus’ harbor silted up, diminishing its importance as a port. Earthquakes and invasions further contributed to its decline, and by the Byzantine period, the city was largely abandoned.

Today, Ephesus is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the world, drawing millions of visitors annually.