Day 9 The City of Ephesus

 

Our next ancient city is Ephesus.  Famous in the Bible but also because of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.  It was destroyed several times either due to conquering or earthquake, but it was continually rebuilt due to its strategic location.

These are the clay pipes collected from the extensive irrigation systems under Ephesus

In the Roman period, Ephesus had a population of more than 250,000 in the 1st century BC, which also made it one of the largest cities in the Mediterranean world.  As large as the area of restoration; estimates range from 1-5% of the original city.

Yep, just as you think, these is the public latrine.  Men only, not sure where the women do their thing.  The trough in front has running water too, you scoop up a hand full of water for you know what, (no TP).

The city's importance as a commercial center declined as the harbor was slowly silted up by the Cayster River. Indeed, malaria was a factor to finally abandon the city in the 15th century.

Quite a story here:  This is the first “public billboard”, translation—house of ill repute on your left.  Interpretation—left foot, means turn left, heart in front of foot and below means pleasure.

Ephesus was an important center for Early Christianity. From AD 52–54, Paul lived in Ephesus, working with the congregation and apparently organizing missionary activity into the hinterlands. He became embroiled in a dispute with artisans, whose livelihood depended on selling the statuettes of Artemis in the Temple of Artemis. He wrote between 53 and 57 AD the letter 1 Corinthians from Ephesus. Later Paul wrote the Epistle to Ephesians while he was in prison in Rome (around 62 AD).

The Library; the third most extensive behind Alexandria and Pergamum.  Marc Antony cleaned out the 250,000 volumes to give to Cleopatra as a gift.

Roman Asia was associated with John, one of the chief apostles, and the Gospel of John might have been written in Ephesus, c 90–100. Ephesus was one of the seven cities addressed in Revelation, indicating that the church at Ephesus was strong.

On Ephesus’s main street going down to the library.