Amateur Adventures #32: Ephesus - A City to Rival Rome
![Ephesus Ruins 8.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmb3RgA9XL1KYfKvqZft2YTxqAz2XEQrNrMGnTLoRD6yTu/Ephesus%20Ruins%208.jpg)
Hello Lovely Steemians
We've left Egypt behind today and are heading off to one of my most favourite places on earth - Turkey. This actually seems to be one of the "it" places for Australians to visit - or at least on their bucket list lately. There were plenty around at the time we visited. We found it quite moderate and easygoing back in 2012 but I've heard reports it is a little less so these day.
There wasn't anything I didn't love about Turkey except that I'd wished we'd had more time. I could spend months and months exploring the coastal towns, hidden beaches, spectacular interior...
But today we are going to start with a stroll through the amazing ancient site of Ephesus.
Enjoy
![Header-large.png](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://steemitimages.com/DQmUiW99wkuRQrsBwsaCiAmWKY2KKE6adAarzkdwXCke8dv/Header-large.png)
One of my favourite places in Turkey was the ancient city of Epehesus - well their ruins at least.
We were about a third of the way through our extended travels with Italy and Rome still to come. So I was kind of blown away to come across ruins that would rival those of Rome in everyway.
But not only the ruins. As it turns out - so did the city in it's heyday.
![Ephesus Ruins 2.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmPrb7J9XvqqX2KXa5iCXSgze1BApmcvSbnRcNH5vffgdy/Ephesus%20Ruins%202.jpg)
Ephesus was a great commerce center - that strengthened the Roman foothold in Asia and survived all the way from the Bronze Age, through the Hellenistic, Roman and Ottoman periods. It was in fact the second largest city in the entire Roman Empire.
![Ruins at Ephesus.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://steemitimages.com/DQmeFAaVbLhmdNGLBesq6SUyYj2xfUNe2gv614A59gWBzRS/Ruins%20at%20Ephesus.jpg)
These days it is one of the most popular tourist attractions of a country that boasts many, easily accessed from Kusadasi, where the large cruise boats deposit hundreds upon hundreds of tourists for a day trip.
We came overland on a small group tour with Australian adventure tour company Geckos.
![Ephesus Ruins 9.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmWQ8ZwBv9F2G3By2QGd6yNJnRcgwVx2wk93NWWV6Q8BYm/Ephesus%20Ruins%209.jpg)
At the time of our visit (May 2012) the site was not a designated UNESCO World Heritage site, but it deservedly achieved this in 2015, ensuring that its preservation will be maintained.
Our visit to Ephesus started on the outskirts with a stop at the Temple of Artemis - which was once a one of the "Seven Wonders of the World" but sadly now little of it remains.
![Selcuk Temple of Artemis.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://steemitimages.com/DQmVNypNMFLVZ8MCXHAg7fGbAHAQiS7B1r3qWpRndFzB4P6/Selcuk%20Temple%20of%20Artemis.jpg)
It is easy to spend a whole day exploring the the ancient streets and whats left of the buildings, ampitheaters and agoras.
The city was a melting pot of culture and religion with influences from its Hellenistic, Roman and Persian history. Ephesus is prominent in the christian bible, through the Letters of St Paul. who admonished them for their pagan behaviour. The "bathhouse" or brothel was a popular place and the arched entrance way still stands today.
![Ephesus Ruins 10.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmaiLzRdPDMS3hKyYZji8Q1vLncPGStnVLhWHvEgAh4xAm/Ephesus%20Ruins%2010.jpg)
The city's ruins are remarkably well preserved, showing its grandeur. The highlight is definitely the walk down Curetes St to the Library of Celsus. In the far off distance are green fields, but once, amazingly that was the harbour that the city was built around.
![Ephesus Ruins 6.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://steemitimages.com/DQmR4rfgjXVgp8L7GtR551uAK2MWYZrWffRiX1ku2K2VjP8/Ephesus%20Ruins%206.jpg)
The street's pavers are made from marble and columns line the streets on either side. It would have been amazing and opulent in the height of it's glory.
With out a doubt the most beautiful building in the complex is the Library of Clesus. It was built in 117AD as a tomb for Gaius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus, who was the governor of the Asian province. It was the third richest library at the time, after those in Alexandria and Pergamum holding more than 12,000 scrolls.
![Ephesus Ruins 5.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVGuLJUGk5i6AbrRqgscjaZ3XtJj2LYhJyMbuDpY9GhD6/Ephesus%20Ruins%205.jpg)
This is the busiest part of the city for tourists trying to get the perfect photo of ruins so well preserved. A bunch of Australians constantly photobombing Japanese tourists probably didn't help much... but we are in so many at least we can say - we are big in Japan :) And you really do need a sense of humour when you travel.
![Celsus Library Ephesus.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://steemitimages.com/DQmXyBV3fYyM1aHZFuzyDssmvGkuvgFJYEBoath4CnwRXDi/Celsus%20Library%20Ephesus.jpg)
Photobombing over - the next stop is the Great Theatre, which is located on Panayir Hill. The theatre seated up to 25,000 people, making the largest in Anatolia.
![Ephesus Ruins 4.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmUkNqYDJ3LhhiJmn9UCwbyq4ZcPKWdNBC4acygRkLLSFp/Ephesus%20Ruins%204.jpg)
Its worth having plenty of time to explore Ephesus - take hat and plenty of water - especially in summer - and really good walking shoes.
![Ephesus Ruins 7.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://steemitimages.com/DQmW5MQUqAorgFH3hKe2nJH9AukR5WgjBTP42WzhHCdnEDq/Ephesus%20Ruins%207.jpg)
Thanks for reading - I hop it inspires you to get out and see this great wondrous world we live in!
Until the next adventure,
Steem on with Love and Light
If you enjoyed this post don't forget to UPVOTE and Hit that FOLLOW Button!
Let's All Share the Steemit Love!
![DQmbD9Et8EtYXcMBhuxJQM1fZe4UmEHShUVCWXkLZtVF6Zi_1680x8400.png](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://steemitimages.com/DQmbD9Et8EtYXcMBhuxJQM1fZe4UmEHShUVCWXkLZtVF6Zi/DQmbD9Et8EtYXcMBhuxJQM1fZe4UmEHShUVCWXkLZtVF6Zi_1680x8400.png)
Don't forget to come check out the teamaustralia tag and see what exciting things we are all up to in the land of Oz! It's full of Aussies and Aussie-lovers with great stories from when we are at home or loose in the world!
Thanks to @bearone for creating my beautiful teamaustralia banner which I love sooooo much! Don't forget to check out her posts and show her some love as well.
If you are a newbie and looking for help - or you just want to help support the minnows and grow this wonderful platform of ours - please consider checking out minnowsupportproject. This is a fantastic initiative to help everyone grow together and is full of fantastic advice for anyone starting out. You can find out more about it here.
![DQmRSmRyg4MdRdiKsWTMbfyiAG673K1yP65MoUTbCXGp9Xi.gif](https://steemitimages.com/DQmRSmRyg4MdRdiKsWTMbfyiAG673K1yP65MoUTbCXGp9Xi/DQmRSmRyg4MdRdiKsWTMbfyiAG673K1yP65MoUTbCXGp9Xi.gif)
(Logo and Banner Created By @justcallmemyth - another great Steemian you should check out and support)
Source:
- Photos are the work of the author except where credited otherwise
- This is original Content and can also be found at my Travel Blog The Amateur Adventurer
- You can check out some of my other posts here:
- Amateur Adventures #27: A Trip to The Valley of the Kings Part 1: Hot Air Ballooning
- Amateur Adventures #28: A Trip to The Valley of the Kings Part 2: Important Tips for Donkey Riding
- The seasons are changing. Time for an energetic spring clean!
- Amateur Adventures #29: A Shakesperean Tragedy of Egyptian Proportions
- Amateur Adventures #30: Crazy Cairo Part 1: The Coptic Precinct and Cairo Museum
- Amateur Adventures #31: Crazy Cairo Part 2: Postcards from the Pyramids
- Fathers Day in Australia : Focus on the Dad's not the politics
Amazing location. The history of this location must feel like it seeps from every corner of every artifact, especially when standing at the foot of that theater
So true, it really does.. not hard to close the eyes and imagine being back there when it was at the height of it's glory!
@shellyduncan got you a $8.41 @minnowbooster upgoat, nice! (Image: pixabay.com)
Want a boost? Click here to read more!
Wow you've been to some really beautiful places. I've never been anywhere with anything ancient it must just be so awe inspiring.
yeah we've been lucky to go there. In Australia we have nothing like that at all! It's amazing to think of these places so old!
I used to live in Turkey, but I never went here. Cool, thanks for sharing.
It's a beautiful place.. thanks reading :)
Sadly never made it to Ephesus on the cruise I went on as at that time most of the cruise lines, including NCL that I was on had pulled Turkey as a destination for safety. On the plus side, We got to go to Santorini for a second time instead, which was quite nice. Next time I'm over there though, I'm hoping to actually get there as it really is a fabulous looking place.
A month later we were on a cruise that did that as a day tour... so we skipped it and spent the mornign enjoying the ship (with no one to fight with over pool lounges lol) and the arvo exploring Kusadasi. It is well worth going if you get the opportunity
Congratulations @shellyduncan! You have completed some achievement on Steemit and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :
Click on any badge to view your own Board of Honor on SteemitBoard.
For more information about SteemitBoard, click here
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOP
Beautiful and the view is amazing
@shellyduncan
Love your post and up vote 👍
Congratulations! This content as been rated and listed on @travelguide as a medium of promoting your post to the public. You can support this project by following and upvoting @travelguide.
Nice write up. I've read about Ephesus but had no idea that there are is so much left standing! Hope I can visit there one day.