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Ephesus, once the most important commercial center of the
western Anatolia , is one of the highlights of Turkey that awaits
the exploring tourists.
The city was established as a port on the mouth of the river Cayster
and was one of the foremost cities of the world for its being on a
strategic trade route in Anatolia. The city itself and the ruins are
all on the sides of a fertile valley.
The extensive ruins including the theatre, library or gymnasium
create the special atmosphere of Ephesus, and appeal to every
visitors. Ephesus has been a "center" during the date. Once a trade
center of the ancient world, a religious center of the early
Christianity and today, a unique tourism center proving all its
perfectas to the visitors through the world.
History:
There is as yet no definite knowledge about the exact date of the
foundation of Ephesus, but famous historians such as Strabon and
Pausanias, agreed in the idea of that Ephesus was founded by
Amazons, and inhabited by the oldest settlers of Anatolia-Lelegians
and Carians, as early as 3000 BC.
In the year of 10 BC, Androclos, the son of King of Athens-Kodros,
was searching a location for establishing a site. Androclos belonged
to Akhas , was running from the Dor invasion in Greece. He was
leading one of the migration convoys. It was predicted by an Apollon
oracle that a fish and a boar would show the location of the new
settlement.
Days later, parallel to the oracle's prediction, while frying, a
fish fell down from the pan, irritating a hiding boar behind the
bushes. The feared boar escaped immediately. Androclos followed the
boar and established the city of Ephesus, where he had killed the
boar. When Androclos died in the wars with Carians, a mausoleum was
built to the memory of the first king of Ephesus. The mausoleum is
considered to be placed around "The Door of Magnesia".
Ephesus was ruled by the Lydian king, Kreisos, in the mid 6BC. The
city reached the "Golden Age" and became a good model to the Antic
World in culture and art, as well. But the inhabitants of Ephesus
moved away. Because they did not like being ruled and lived in the
new Ephesus that is located around the area of Artemision.
As the detailed excavations have not completed yet, apart from the
Artemision, the remains of that age haven't been revealed. Later,
Ephesus was dominated by Persians. As Ephesians did not join the
"Ionian Rebellion" against Persians, the city was saved from
destruction. The rebellion resulted in the loss of Persian.
Alexander the Great won Persians and the Ionian cities got their
independence in the year of 334.
Ephesus was in great prosperity during the times of Alexander the
Great Until the arrival of Alexander the Great, Ephesus was
consisted of two governing systems, democratic and oligarchic. But
the oligarchic system was violated with the coming of a new ruler,
and a rebellion existed in Ephesus. The Temple of Artemision was
fired and destroyed by the supporters of oligarchy in 356BC.
As the temple became unusable, Alexander the Great proposed for
repairing. But the Ephesians delicately refused for the reason that
"A God can not built a temple for a God." An Ephesian architect,
Dinocrates restored the Temple of Artemision. After the death of
Alexander the Great, Ephesus was ruled by the general of him,
Lysimakhos, in 287 BC. Lysimakhos decided to change the prior
location of Ephesus to further west, due to the
destruction of the port by the alluviums, and the inhabitants were
forced to settle in the new place named "Arsinoeina", the name of
Lysimakhos' wife. The city was surrounded by wide stone walls in 10
meters height and 9 meters length. With the death of Lysimakhos,
Ephesians destroyed most of the city walls. And, "Arsinoeina" was
changed into "Ephesus" again, to be forgotten eternally.
Ephesus was controlled by the Romans in 190 BC. The city was given
to the Bergamian kings for a time. With the death of King Attalos 3
in 133BC, the city was re-ruled by the Romans. Ephesus reached to
its height and was notorious for its wealth and luxury between 1-4
AD., especially during the reign of Augustus. During the period, the
population of Ephesus increased to 225 000, and the city became the
capital of the new Asia.
By cleaning the river Caystros from the alluviums, the great trade
port of Ephesus, a gateway to foreign countries, enriched the
prosperity of the city and continued to thrive with commerce and
culture. The city was constructed, adding new models to the former
magnificence of Ephesus. "Celcius Library" clearly exemplifies the
perfecta of the era, with the delicate details of the construction.
Ephesus has played significant roles during the date, in the early
Christianity, as well. The prestige of Ephesus increased with the
arrival of St. Paul, for spreading the Christianity to the Ephesians
worshipping to Artemision. St. Paul and the disciplines of
Christianity were strictly refused by Ephesians, elderly. With the
long tiring struggles of St. Paul, Christianity was accepted by the
most of the population around Ephesus.
St. Paul had also sent one of his most famous letters to the church
in Ephesus. Additionally, St. John and Virgin Mary visited Ephesus
and Virgin Mary settled down the Mount Bulbul, located close to
Ephesus, around the years of 431 AD.
Ephesus became a state of Seljukian in the year of 1090, for a time
was held by Byzantine. In 1307 Seljukians controlled the city again.
However, years later, the River Caystros was silted up, leaving the
site far inland.
Therefore, the city of Ephesus has lost its significance, due to the
development of the ports of Izmir and Kusadasi in sea-trade. |
