Ephesus
The ancient city of Ephesus has found its place on the territory of Turkey, which in the past developed very rapidly due to its port near the Mediterranean. Its population reached 225,000 people. Here, in the fifth century BC, the construction of the temple, which belongs to the seven wonders of the world, was started. This ancient building was built in honor of the goddess of fertility Artemis, whose worship in the city of Ephesus has been carried out since time immemorial.
Now, Ephesus is the most visited tourist attraction in Turkey, where the ruins of the old city have been preserved. It arose thanks to the son of the head of the city, Androcles, who came to these parts in order to build the temple of Artemis. The city is named after his beloved Ephesia. Thus, already in the tenth century, a city that everyone knew about grew up on the local land, just before our eyes. Due to its convenient location, Ephesus became a major port where trade routes from Asia crossed. His fame went far beyond the borders, and he became so rich and confident that the government decided not to even build fortresses around.
The earthquakes that took place in this area in the III century BC led to the retreat of the sea. The city, along with the port, was moved slightly higher up the mountain, as the former bay turned into a swampy area. Over time, the sea continued to become shallow (at the moment, the ruins of the city are located 10 km from the Mediterranean coast) and Ephesus gradually fell into disrepair. During Roman rule, Ephesus also stood at the head of the province, when it was decorated with various public buildings, as well as magnificent palaces. During the Gothic conquests in 262, Ephesus collapsed, and as a result, everyone forgot about it for centuries to come. And it wasn't until 1869 that this old city was once again on the radar, as archaeologists discovered entire neighborhoods of the wonderful Ephesus.
Among all the excavations, one of the main attractions of ancient Ephesus is the library of Celsius, which was built back in 117 BC. Here, in the tomb under the structure, its founder, who was the head of the province of Asia, Julius Celsius, was buried. Also, a very significant archaeological find from 1870 is the temple of Artemis, which belongs to the Seven Wonders of the World. Some fragments of this structure are preserved in museums in Istanbul and London. This ancient city of Ephesus includes such ancient buildings as the Odeon Theater, the Agora, the temple of Hadrian, built in the 2nd century AD, the Domitian Church, as well as a brothel and a huge theater that could accommodate 44 thousand people.
The ancient city of Ephesus is visited by tourists from all over the world to see the wonderful architecture of antiquity, as well as to feel the spirit of the ancient world.
