EPHESUS: Capital of Asia Minor
Ephesus proudly houses one of the seven ancient wonders of the world; the Temple of Artemis. The city is dedicated to her and has many fascinating buildings. The precise date of the city’s foundation is not known but the legend says that the city was first founded by Women Warriors of the Amazon in the 14th century BC and later inhabited by lonians in the 11th century BC after the settlement of the Anatolian’s natives, the Lelegians. In a short time the city became very important. After 133 BC, it became a Roman province and during the reign of Augustus, it became the trade Centre of Asia.
With all these civilizations passing through, the remains take one or two days to visit. The city still retains its importance, but this time as the most important archeological and historical city in Turkey. One of the very amazing ruins in Ephesus is the huge amphitheater with a 24,000 seat capacity and superb acoustic effects. Selcuk is close to Ephesus and is crowned with a Byzantine citadel and the basilica of St. John. Next to the basilica is the Selcuk Isa Bey Mosque. The Seven Sleepers’ Cave is another historical place near Ephesus. The archeological museum is significant with its striking collection of items gathered from the excavations in Ephesus.
On Bulbuldagi one can find the small house built for the Virgin Mary (9 km from Selcuk) when St. John brought her to Ephesus after Christ’s death. She spent her last days in that house. Today it is a place of Pilgrimage for Christians and also visited by Muslims, and is officially sanctioned by the Vatican.