About Ephesus

One of Turkey 's greatest archaeological sites

Persians, Greeks, Byzantines, Romans. and now tourists. Ephesus has been tramped on and traipsed through by pretty well all of history's great dynasties. Dating back to the 10th century BC, Ephesus was one of the most important cities of antiquity and today represents some of the most well preserved ruins outside Pompeii. Its Golden Age was the second century BC when the city was one of the principal ports in the Mediterranean with a population of around 300,000 and a monopoly on Middle Eastern wealth.

Today, a visit to Ephesus is a highlight of any visit to Turkey. So impressive, in fact, that the locals have named a beer after it(Efes). Much still stands, though regrettably not the Temple of Artemis ; once one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. There's now just the one column left standing and even that looks like it has been re-erected. The city may no longer be the trading site it was, but the 'open-air museum' probably handles the same volume of traffic. Its theatre is one of the biggest and best preserved in the world, with seating for 25,000. It hosts an annual festival(held in spring) with international orchestral, theatrical and pop performances.

This site will walk you around the numerous churches and baths, and of course the restored Celsus Library, giving you a digestible amount of history and some inviting photos. The Efes Archaeological Museum in the nearby town of Selcuk houses many of the more significant finds and is considered one of the most important museums in Turkey.

www.aboutephesus.com

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