THE ANCIENT RUINS OF EPHESUS

Close to the popular holiday resort of Kusadi, on Turkey's Aegean coast, lie the ancient ruins of Ephesus, a true testament to the hard work and perseverance of archaeologists and historians over many years. Portraying the might and skill of a new, confident Roman Empire, the ruins will leave you in wonder and should definitely be on your bucket list when coming to Turkey. As you visit the excavated and rebuilt structures, it will become clearer to you how the Romans lived their lives, aided by aqueducts, public latrines and terraced houses, which were used by those who were better off in the Roman society.

The area is also of biblical significance. The ancient city may have risen to fame under the pagan Romans, however the major turning point came when the city council decided to persecute  inhabitants who had turned to Christianity. Hence these new converts would meet in secret, with major players of the New Testament such as Paul, John and Mary also visiting the city. It is also widely believed that the Gospel of Saint John was written in Ephesus, and that upon her deathbed, the Virgin Mary was brought to the green hills of Selcuk, which overlook the city, to be laid to rest. Despite the impossibility of proving this last fact, the shrine of the Virgin Mary is still curated by the Roman Catholic Churches, and receives hundreds of visitors daily. The city also makes up one of the seven churches of the revelation, and is mentioned in the New Testament, and contains the tomb of Saint John, Augustus' Gate, Hadrian's Temple and the Pyrtaneion.

The most amazing local feature, however, must be the Great Theatre. Erected along the slope of Mount Pion and able to accommodate up to 25000 people, this amphitheatre was also used by Saint Paul to preach to the local Ephesians about the truth of the Bible. The theatre was also the center of religious and political debate, philosophical arguments and fights by gladiators, as well as plays and concerts, and here also took place the Artemis riots.

You may also wish to see the main marble street, which will take you to the Celcius Library all the way from the Grand Theatre. The area is filled with interesting historical artefacts, such as busts of famous people, engraved lettres and even an advertisement for a brothel. The street's origin can be traced back to the first century AD, and was paved with marble around the year 500 so that carriages could also make use of it.

Sitting atop the Bulbul Mountain, Roman terraced house still stand and can be of particular interest to those visiting. These houses were at the time the property of wealthy Roman citizens, who could afford to own slaves. The homes are decorated with intricate mosaics and remain an interesting testament to how the wealthy lived at the time.

The aforementioned Celsius library stands at the end of the main street, and was at a time one of the three largest libraries of the empire, containing up to 12 000 scrolls, and was oft frequented by philosophers, scientists and artisans. The library was unfortunately knocked down by an earthquake around the third century AD, and considerable work and effort was needed to restore it in the 1970s.

The Agora, built under Alexander the Great, was the center to which heads of state would flock to discuss their business. The ruins which remain, though not those of the original, are those of an agora restored by Marcus Aurelius' wife, Faustina. Although the agora was a center for trade, a terra cotta sarcophagus was also discovered by the restorers, suggesting the existence of a necropolis under the site, possibly dating back to the seventh century BC. A nearby water reservoir was also discovered, which at the time must have supplied the town.

Near to the ancient town, you can also find the temple of Artemis, constructed during the reign of King Croesus of Lydia during the 7th century BC, honouring the Greek Goddess of hunting and nature, and twin sister to Apollo. The temple was a sanctuary for beautiful pieces of artwork, particularly sculptures crafted by famous craftsmen such as Kresilas, Phydias and Polyclitus. The wealth of the temple was also increased by donations of gold, silver and jewelry made by the local residents. The temple was unfortunately burned down in 356 BC by Herostratus, who was seeking infamy so as to ensure his memory would live on throughout the ages.

Christians and people interested in history should also be sure to visit the Virign Mary's house, which according to some traditions is believed to have been her final dwelling before her passing away. Mary's care was entrusted to Saint John the Baptist by Jesus shortly before his crucifixion, and he decided to bring her with him to Ephesus, from whence he wished to breach the Gospel. The stone house is a simple building and an example of normal Roman architecture, and is today visited by Christians and Muslims alike who come to pay hommage, pray, and drink from the nearby springs, believed to be holy. This trip can be combined with your visit to Ephesus, or else to Selcuk, where you may also find Saint John's basilica.

Aegean Turkey offers more to visit that simply Ephesus, and you may wish to plan a full day visiting such archaeological sites as Priene, Miletus and Didyma, all located withing the same area.

Priene's founding can be traced back to the second millennium BC, featuring a restored ancient Agora alongside temples to Ancient Greek and Egyptian gods.

About twenty kilometers from Priene lies Miletus, which boasts an ancient theatre, a caravanserai, the baths of queen Faustina, the temple of Serapis as well as the Bishop's church. Close to Miletus lies Didyma, which in ancient times was believed to be the place where Zeus and Leto conceived their twins : Apollo and Artemis, and where you may still see the temple of Apollo.

You may also wish to visit Sardis, the ancient capital of Lydia, an hour away from Izmir, as well as Pergon, an ancient city belonging to Turkey's top 100 historical sites and which is also on the UNESCO'S World Heritage List. Pergamon possesses remarkable buildings from the second century BC, such as the Hellenistic theater, the sanctuary of Trajan and the Athenium.