VOLUME 5 ISSUE 1
Page 17
The Grand Bazaar, Istanbul
In constant operation since 1461, you can find everything
here from jewely, to carpets, leather goods, food, exotic
fabrics, confections, tea-houses, musical instruments,
spices, ceramics, and more.
Ancient City of Ephesus,
near present day Selchuk
Ephesus, one of the 12 cities
of the ancient Ionian Greeks
in Asia Minor, was founded
around the 11th century BC.
In the 1st century AD, St.
Paul the Apostle preached
here and addressed his book
of Ephesians to its young
Christian congregation. It is
also believed to be the resting place of the Virgin Mary
and St. John the Apostle. At
the ancient site one can see the magEphesus
nificent facade of the library of Celsius, the Hercules Gates separating districts, the houses
of the well-to-do with running water and mosaics, a public latrine, the city council auditorium, the public amphitheatre, shops, monuments to Emperor Hadrian and
more. As one walks along its main boulevards, one can
trace the trenches etched into the marble paving blocks
by hundreds of Roman chariots and see secret Christian
symbols scratched into the rock. In Roman times, during
the 115+ degree F Mediterranean summers, city officials
used to release water from public fountains to cool its
white-hot marble streets.
St. John's Church, Ephesus
It is believed that St. John the Apostle returned to
Ephesus after his exile to Patmos in 95 AD. In the
3rd and 4th century a wooden church was built on the
site of his grave. When this was destroyed by earthquakes, Justinian ordered a new domed, cruciform
basilica be built in the 6th century. A severe earthquake destroyed much of it in 1370.
Selchuk-From St. John’s Church
Temple of Artemis/Artemesion, Ephesus
This temple in honor of the goddess of the hunt, Artemis, now in ruins, was one of the Seven Wonders
of the Ancient World. It was built in the 6th century
BC and was rebuilt after it burned in 356 BC. As
sailors on boats approached the busy Ephesus seaport, they were amazed by this massive structure, its
white marble gleaming spectacularly in the hot Asia
Minor sun. The temple measured 342 ft in length and
164 ft in width. Its 127 stone columns stood more
than 60 ft tall. The temple was destroyed by the
Goths in 262 AD.
Library of Celcius
New Mosque