| Ephesus (TR) Efes, (GR) Éphesos | |
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| State | Turkey |
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| Institutional website | |
Ephesus (Greek: Έφεσος, Éphesos; Latin: Ephesus) is an archaeological site of the Central Aegean region in Turkey.
To know
Ephesus, today one of the largest archaeological sites inAsia, was one of the largest Ionian cities in Anatolia, located in Lidia at the mouth of the Caistro river. The city was located in what is present-day Turkey approximately between the cities of Smyrna is Aydin.
Background
It was an important and rich commercial center and from 29 BC. was the capital of the Roman province of Asia. Among the ruins, which make it one of the most famous archaeological sites in the Mediterranean Sea, are worthy of note those of the Theater, the small temple of Hadrian, the Library of Celsus and the numerous public bathhouses. Reduced to a single column are the testimonies of what was the most famous monument of Ephesus, and according to Pausanias the largest building in the ancient world: the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the world, finally razed to the ground in 401 for order of John Chrysostom, archbishop of Constantinople. Ephesus was the third most powerful city in the ancient world after that Rome is Alexandria of Egypt.
How to get
Given its proximity to Selçuk it is sufficient to arrive there (as described in the article of that city) and then travel the remaining 3 km with the means that is deemed most appropriate. On fine days it is also pleasant to do it on foot, but better on returning since you will have to walk for several hours inside the site.
By car
A taxi charges around 20 TL to cover the Selçuk-Ephesus route.
By bus
There are mini-buses (dolmuş) that depart from the bus stop (otogar) of Selçuk which cost 2.5 TL per trip (January 2014). In the official ones, the price is displayed internally. Upon return, private individuals are likely to cover this journey at the same price on vehicles identical to the official ones. THE dolmuş they depart every 15/20 minutes depending on the period and time.
Permits / Rates
Entrance to the archaeological site is subject to charges and costs 25 TL per person and parking for the car 7.5 TL (January 2013). It is open from 8:30 to 18:30 in the summer period (from May to October) and while in the winter period (from November to April) it closes early at 16:30.
Inside the site there are the terrace houses that in order to be visited you have to pay a separate ticket at the cost of 15 TL per person (January 2014).
Audio guides are available for the price of 10 TL or local guides. Since the entire site is well described by signs in English, it is also possible to visit it independently at no additional cost.
How to get around
Inside the archaeological site you can only move on foot along the permitted routes (others are forbidden by special signs or by agents working inside). The site is very large and should be taken into account to walk for 3/4 hours if you want to see it in its entirety.
What see
- Vario thermal baths. They were the first building you met when entering the city. A very common aspect for the cities of the time, a form of welcome for travelers arriving from distant lands.
- Upper Agora (Civil Agora). With a floor plan of 160 x 58 meters and surrounded by important political buildings. The north side included a basilica and a three-nave building dedicated to Artemis, Augustus and Tiberius. To the north of this basilica there was a temenos with two temples dedicated to Rome and Cesare. A small temple dedicated to the cult of Augustus was built in the square.
- Aqueduct. In the northern part of the site the remains of the terracotta aqueduct that served the entire city can be seen on the ground (some underground, others on the surface and others broken). In the vicinity of the upper agora, unless they have been removed or reused, one can see a huge mass of elements that were once part of the complex system.
- Odeon (Small theater). This minor theater was able to accommodate up to about 5,000 people. Unlike the main theater, this was not used for shows, but for meetings.
- Prytaneum (Prytaneion).
- Asclepion. The city hospital. The snake, symbol of doctors, is carved in stone.
- Temple of Domitian. Erected by Domitian himself but later destroyed after his death.
- Pollio Fountain.
- Monument of Memmius.
- Via dei Cureti. The way that connects the lower agora to the upper one.
- Trajan's Fountain. With the imposing statue of the homonymous emperor and the inscription that reads: "I conquered it all, now the world is at my feet".
- Men's latrine. Rectangular structure with sculpted marble seats for guests to sit comfortably.
- Brothel (House of love).
- Temple of Hadrian. Carved in the Corinthian style and covered with splendid friezes.
- Terraced houses (Yamaç Evleri).
15 TL (January 2014). Beautiful noble houses currently under renovation. The walls are filled with wonderful frescoes and mosaics. To visit them it is necessary to buy a second ticket dedicated to them. - Celsus Library. One of the symbols of the site. The façade has been entirely rebuilt, also recovering the statues that adorn it and embellish it. At one time, with its approximately 12,000 scrolls, it was the third largest library in the world, after that of Alexandria of Egypt is Pergamum.
- Marble way. The street that starting from the Teatro Grande runs along the entire lower agora.
- Lower Agora (Commercial Agora). An area of 110 m² surrounded by colonnades and dedicated to the textile and food market.
- Great Theater. Gargantuan construction erected by the Romans in the first century AD. capable of hosting up to 25,000 people.
- Via del Porto (Via Arcadia). Built by the Byzantine emperor Arcadius, it was the most elegant street in the city, with two rows of columns and lamps. The sewer system ran there to the sea. There is a column higher than all the others to symbolize where the sea once began.
- Vedio Gymnasium. Dating back to the 2nd century AD. and equipped with gyms, athletics tracks, swimming pools, spas and latrines.
- Stage. Dating back to the 2nd century AD. and plundered of its stones by the Byzantines to build the castle on the hill of Ayasuluk a Selçuk.
15 TL (January 2014). Beautiful noble houses currently under renovation. The walls are filled with wonderful frescoes and mosaics. To visit them it is necessary to buy a second ticket dedicated to them.What to do
- Theater acoustics. This imposing theater capable of accommodating up to 25,000 people, thanks to its semicircular shape (typical of this type of structure) still has excellent acoustics thanks to a faithful reconstruction and restoration. Everyone, more or less, try to emit sounds to make them echo up to the back rows, but some groups of tourists, with reduced inhibitions, even go so far as to try their hand at real singing performances and based on their talent you can also watch a suggestive show.
Shopping
Around the entrance there are numerous shops selling all kinds of souvenirs. Some even display a nice sign that reads: Genuine fake watches (i.e. authentic fake watches). It is generally not a place to do good deals, however you can always compare the prices of the various shops before buying something you like.
Where to eat
Quick snacks are offered by bars and kiosks at the entrance (both externally and internally), while for lunch / dinner it is more appropriate to go to the more populous urban centers such as the nearby Selçuk.
Where stay
The best solution for sleeping around is Selçuk, which is only 3 km away. Alternatively there is also Kuşadası which is a little further away and Ephesus is considered as a day trip out of town.
Safety
How to keep in touch
Around
- Seven churches of Asia (Seven Churches of the Apocalypse). They are the seven diocesan communities mentioned by John the Apostle in the Revelation of the New Testament. All located in Asia Minor, in the current Turkey, especially in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardinians, Philadelphia and Laodicea. In particular Sardi and Bergama which are less than 4 hours away and which contain impressive ruins.
- Cave of the Seven Sleepers. Not far from the northern entrance of Ephesus there is a cave, known as the seven sleepers, at the center of a legendary story common to both the Christian and Muslim traditions, mentioned both in the Golden Legend and in the eighteenth sura of the Koran, the "sura of the cave".
- House of Mary (6 km from Ephesus). 12.5 TL per person and 5 TL per vehicle. Place of religious pilgrimage for both Catholics and Muslims.
- Aphrodisias (About 100 km from Ephesus). 8 TL per person. A beautiful archaeological site that has only the downside of the distance.
