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Ephesus Ancient History
The foundation of Ephesus goes back to Neolithic period which is 6000 BC. Archeologists found out that there were inhabitants during the Hittite Period where the Temple of Artemis stands today. The city was called Apasas which was the capital of the Kingdom of Arzawa.
Who originally built Ephesus?
Some sources say that the city was founded by the Amazons in the 3rd millennium BC. The inhabitants of this small settlement were Amazons, Carians, and Lelegians. The Amazons were a race of women warriors who lived in Anatolia. We see the mention of Amazons in the epic of Iliad and Odyssey by Homer. According to Epic of Odyssey, Amazons fought with the Trojans against the Mycaneans and Spartans in the Trojan War.
At that time, their queen was killed by the Achaean hero Achilles who was Brad Pitt in the last Troy movie. According to the legend Amazons were furious women fighters who did not like men but used men for fertility reasons. They were very good at arching and to be faster at arching, they used to amputate their left breasts. Sources say that "Ephesus" was derived from the name of a successful Amazon queen named Apasas. As it is known there are also Amazons in South America in Brazil today. The name is given by a German Traveler in the 17th century when he saw the woman warriors alongside the river among the rainforests, similar to the ones mentioned in the Epics of Homer.
In 11th century BC, Dor invaders coming from North Macedonia migrated to mainland Greece and drove off the inhabitants to migrate. Among the minorities Ionians, Aiolians and some of the Dors migrated to western Asia Minor. Aiolians went to the North of Smyrna. Ionians were here in Ephesus and around. Herodotos say "The best weather is in Ionia. The soils of Aiolia is much fertile but not the weather." They founded 12 major new cities such as Miletus, Priene, Colophon..etc. Dors went south and were assimilated by the Carians. Ephesus became an important port city. in the 6th century BC. The city extended around where the Temple of Artemis stands today. Today this area is called Ayasoluk. The name is derived from the word "Hagios Theologos' ' According to the legend Androklos, son of Kodros who is the King of Athens leaded this migration. He landed here after conquering the Island of Samos. At that time a permission from the Gods had to be taken to found a city. Androklos sailed to Delphi, to the Apollon Temple to ask the oracles where to found the city. Oracles said "A boar and a fish will guide you and will mark the place where the city should be founded." This did not sound very logical to Androklos how a boar and a fish is going to meet. One day, during a barbecue. A fish jumped out from the grill with a burning coal stuck to it and caused a fire. This fire scared a wild boar close by and Androkos hunted the boar and decided to found the city where the boar was killed.
Ephesus was under Lydian and Persian rule till the 4th century BC. Ephesus was in Attika-Delos alliance and her contribution was 7 talents a year while Colophon was contributing with 3 talents. Afterwards the famous Commander Alexander the Great liberated the city from Persians. After his death, one of his generals and successors, Lysimachos, ruled the city. During his time: The alluvial deposits carried by Kaystros river silted the harbor and constantly rising sea level submerged the old settlement and made the harbor impassable. The unfavorable condition of the harbor affected trade. Ephesus was located on low ground, and was completely flooded by the sea. A new enriched settlement including Gymnasiums, stadiums, fountains... is ordered by Lysimachos. The reasons for the new conception of the city were, the rise in level of the groundwater, and the necessity of a new harbor due to silting. Inhabitants were transferred to the new city where it stands today; between two hills Preon and Pion. The new city followed the grid plan set down by Hypodomos of Miletus. The streets cross each other at right angles. The plots, buildings appear as a chess board when viewed from the air.
What was ancient Ephesus famous for?
Ephesus was famous for the Temple of Artemis (Diana). Great crowds of people were attracted to Ephesus by the cult of Artemis and her famous temple.Temple of Artemis is considered to be one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. Turkey houses another wonder, which is 120 miles away from Ephesus in the Carian city of Halicarnasus. "Mausoleum of King Mausolus"
In the 2nd century BC Ephesus sided with Antiochus, the king of Syria against the Romans. After the defeat at Magnesia (Manisa) which is 100 miles north of Ephesus. Ephesus went under the rule of the King of Pergamon, an ally of Rome. After the King's death, it became a Roman city. During the reign of Roman Emperor Antonius Pius, the city bore the title of "the first and greatest metropolis of Asia."
The peak times of Ephesus were during Hellenistic and Roman times. Ephesus, the jewel of Ionia, the largest Metropolis of Asia Minor, consisted of 200.000 citizens and 25.000 slaves (2nd century AD). During the feast days honoring Artemis, the population tripled. The city became the capital of Province Asia during the Roman Emperor Augustus in the early first century AD. During this time Ephesus became a center for Art & Culture and a meeting place for Philosophy. The most famous philosopher from Ephesus is Heraklitos who lived in the 4th century BC. In the 2nd century AD many marble buildings were built and the streets were decorated with marble statues. %46 of the marble reserves & quarries of the world is located in Turkey. The city had one of the most advanced aqueduct & sewage systems in the ancient world, with multiple aqueducts of various sizes to supply different areas of the city, including 4 major aqueducts. These advanced aqueduct systems used to supply 120lt of water per second. Today in Kusadasi 200lt supplied per second.
Some sources say that the city was founded by the Amazons in the 3rd millennium BC. The inhabitants of this small settlement were Amazons, Carians, and Lelegians. The Amazons were a race of women warriors who lived in Anatolia. We see the mention of Amazons in the epic of Iliad and Odyssey by Homer. According to Epic of Odyssey, Amazons fought with the Trojans against the Mycaneans and Spartans in the Trojan War.
At that time, their queen was killed by the Achaean hero Achilles who was Brad Pitt in the last Troy movie. According to the legend Amazons were furious women fighters who did not like men but used men for fertility reasons. They were very good at arching and to be faster at arching, they used to amputate their left breasts. Sources say that "Ephesus" was derived from the name of a successful Amazon queen named Apasas. As it is known there are also Amazons in South America in Brazil today. The name is given by a German Traveler in the 17th century when he saw the woman warriors alongside the river among the rainforests, similar to the ones mentioned in the Epics of Homer.
In 11th century BC, Dor invaders coming from North Macedonia migrated to mainland Greece and drove off the inhabitants to migrate. Among the minorities Ionians, Aiolians and some of the Dors migrated to western Asia Minor. Aiolians went to the North of Smyrna. Ionians were here in Ephesus and around. Herodotos say "The best weather is in Ionia. The soils of Aiolia is much fertile but not the weather." They founded 12 major new cities such as Miletus, Priene, Colophon..etc. Dors went south and were assimilated by the Carians. Ephesus became an important port city. in the 6th century BC. The city extended around where the Temple of Artemis stands today. Today this area is called Ayasoluk. The name is derived from the word "Hagios Theologos' ' According to the legend Androklos, son of Kodros who is the King of Athens leaded this migration. He landed here after conquering the Island of Samos. At that time a permission from the Gods had to be taken to found a city. Androklos sailed to Delphi, to the Apollon Temple to ask the oracles where to found the city. Oracles said "A boar and a fish will guide you and will mark the place where the city should be founded." This did not sound very logical to Androklos how a boar and a fish is going to meet. One day, during a barbecue. A fish jumped out from the grill with a burning coal stuck to it and caused a fire. This fire scared a wild boar close by and Androkos hunted the boar and decided to found the city where the boar was killed.
Ephesus was under Lydian and Persian rule till the 4th century BC. Ephesus was in Attika-Delos alliance and her contribution was 7 talents a year while Colophon was contributing with 3 talents. Afterwards the famous Commander Alexander the Great liberated the city from Persians. After his death, one of his generals and successors, Lysimachos, ruled the city. During his time: The alluvial deposits carried by Kaystros river silted the harbor and constantly rising sea level submerged the old settlement and made the harbor impassable. The unfavorable condition of the harbor affected trade. Ephesus was located on low ground, and was completely flooded by the sea. A new enriched settlement including Gymnasiums, stadiums, fountains... is ordered by Lysimachos. The reasons for the new conception of the city were, the rise in level of the groundwater, and the necessity of a new harbor due to silting. Inhabitants were transferred to the new city where it stands today; between two hills Preon and Pion. The new city followed the grid plan set down by Hypodomos of Miletus. The streets cross each other at right angles. The plots, buildings appear as a chess board when viewed from the air.
What was ancient Ephesus famous for?
Ephesus was famous for the Temple of Artemis (Diana). Great crowds of people were attracted to Ephesus by the cult of Artemis and her famous temple.Temple of Artemis is considered to be one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. Turkey houses another wonder, which is 120 miles away from Ephesus in the Carian city of Halicarnasus. "Mausoleum of King Mausolus"
In the 2nd century BC Ephesus sided with Antiochus, the king of Syria against the Romans. After the defeat at Magnesia (Manisa) which is 100 miles north of Ephesus. Ephesus went under the rule of the King of Pergamon, an ally of Rome. After the King's death, it became a Roman city. During the reign of Roman Emperor Antonius Pius, the city bore the title of "the first and greatest metropolis of Asia."
The peak times of Ephesus were during Hellenistic and Roman times. Ephesus, the jewel of Ionia, the largest Metropolis of Asia Minor, consisted of 200.000 citizens and 25.000 slaves (2nd century AD). During the feast days honoring Artemis, the population tripled. The city became the capital of Province Asia during the Roman Emperor Augustus in the early first century AD. During this time Ephesus became a center for Art & Culture and a meeting place for Philosophy. The most famous philosopher from Ephesus is Heraklitos who lived in the 4th century BC. In the 2nd century AD many marble buildings were built and the streets were decorated with marble statues. %46 of the marble reserves & quarries of the world is located in Turkey. The city had one of the most advanced aqueduct & sewage systems in the ancient world, with multiple aqueducts of various sizes to supply different areas of the city, including 4 major aqueducts. These advanced aqueduct systems used to supply 120lt of water per second. Today in Kusadasi 200lt supplied per second.
Ephesus Celsus Library
Why was Ephesus abandoned?
Although sacked by the Goths in 263 AD, Ephesus remained one of the most important cities of the Byzantine Empire after the city of Constantinople in the 5th and 6th centuries. However, other destruction by the Arabs in the year 8th century AD caused a quick decline: the city was largely abandoned when the harbor was completely filled in with river silt despite repeated dredges during the city's history. The silt removed its access to the Aegean Sea. When the Seljuk Turks conquered it in the 11th century, it was a small village. The Byzantines resumed control in 1100 and kept control of the region until the end of the 13th century. During the Byzantine period the major settlement was in its first place at Ayasoluk (Hagios Theologos) Hill. The Emir of Aydin, a Turkish state, conquered the city in the 14th century. Starting from the 16th century, the city lost its importance and was ruled by the Ottoman Empire.
Where is modern day Ephesus?
Today the modern name of Ephesus is Selcuk. A small Turkish town which has a population of 36.000 people and is located in Western Turkey. The main industry of Selcuk is agriculture. Selcuk is 60 km south of Izmir and 18 km away from Kusadasi Port.
Is Ephesus worth visiting?
Ephesus is one of the most preserved Greco-Roman cities of the world. It is the largest archaeological park of Turkey. Visited by 200.000 travelers annually. It is one of the main highlights of Turkey.
Ephesus is one of the most preserved Greco-Roman cities of the world. It is the largest archaeological park of Turkey. Visited by 200.000 travelers annually. It is one of the main highlights of Turkey.
Where is Ephesus in the Bible today”.
Selcuk, formerly known as Ephesus, stands as a historical gem in western Turkey. The transition to its present name retains the echoes of its rich past, as Ephesus was a pivotal city in the Roman province of Asia. The Bible mentions of Ephesus, especially in the New Testament, solidify its significance, notably portraying a vibrant Christian community. The zealous apostle Paul's 2.5-year stay in Ephesus further underscores the city's cultural and religious prominence. Selcuk, with its blend of ancient heritage and modern flair, remains a testament to Ephesus's enduring legacy.
Ephesus History Tours
We offer private history tours of Ephesus from Kusadasi, Izmir, Selcuk and Sirince.
For more information contact us.
For more information contact us.
Top Attractions in Ephesus :
- Magnesia Gate
- East Gymnasium
- State Agora
- Basilica, Odeion
- Prythaneion
- Memmius Monument
- Domitian Temple
- Hercules Gate
- Curetes Street
- Hadrian Temple
- Scholastica Baths
- Latrines
- Celcus Library
- The Brothel
- Commercial Agora
- Marble Road
- Theater
- Harbour Street
- Church of Mary
- Ephesus in Bible
- House of Virgin Mary
- Temple of Artemis
- Basilica of St. John
- Ephesus Museum
- Terrace Houses
- Sirimce Village
- Isa Bey Mosque
- Grotto of 7 sleepers
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