EPHESUS - Ancient Metropolis

 
An early start so that we can beat the crowds to the important ancient Greco-Roman city, Ephesus. Its history is legend,with the oldest references dating back to the 7th Century BC.  For many in our group, this day is anticipated as one of the highlights of the tour. There are so many aspects to the city, its impossible to see everything. But pre-armed with guidebooks and with Murat's guidance, we make a darn good effort. We ahead and immerse ourselves in the vast complex. The layout and streets of the town are still very evident. We learn about ancient plumbing, and daily life as well as the more esoteric aspects of the times.

Baths, gymnasiums, theatres temples, public latrines, fountains, shops, places to do business, places of worship, houses, streets,.....lots of marble, sculptures...rubble.

The famous library of Ephesus is impressive from every angle.

The crowds have caught up with us but there is plenty of room to roam and explore the many different buildings and open spaces. Murat, as usual is full of historic facts and finds excellent spots to brief Theus and to get great views.

The Great Theatre, dating back to Hellenistic times BC, was expanded and used by the Romans for everything from theatre performances, assemblies and displays of gladiatorial combat. later it was incorporated into the Byzantine city walls.

In the hillside, archaeologists have excavated a small percentage of the houses of the wealthy Romans who lived in this city. There is an extra ticket price to visit these houses, but it is well worth the entrance fee. This is my favourite part of the whole site. You can get a sense that people really made these their homes. The rooms are quite elegant. The frescoes on the walls, beautiful mosaic floors and wall decorations are beautifully preserved. It makes you believe that whomever lived here, had a gracious lifestyle.

 

As throughout the site, the signage is excellent, so we get a good understanding of the function of the rooms and other particulars about the "Slope Houses". A roof and walkways have been erected to preserve the delicate condition of the ongoing excavations,
 

For a good part of the morning it has rained quite hard - but nothing that can't be solved with a fashionable emergency rain coat. Nothing can deter the intrepid tourists from their explorations into the past!

Following the route down the main street, along the valley, the last place we visit is the the church dedicated to Mary and then, quite sated with history, we head to the TAT restaurant for lunch.

Refreshed after a good meal, we take a brief look at the last standing column of a formerly formidable place, the Temple of Artemis. The column doesn't do justice to what was once one of the Seven Wonders of the World. 

Tonight is the last group dinner with our good companion and driver, Sadik. Although he doesn't speak any English, we try to let him know how much we appreciated his reliability, patience and good driving. Tomorrow, after dropping us at the airport in Izmir, he has a long lonely drive back to his home in Cappadocia. I am sure he will be happy to be back with his family.