"Ephesus - A Beautiful Ancient Wonder of... " a Ephesus Travel Page by dlytle

Located in what is now the Republic of Turkey, Ephesus is about 6 miles (10 km) inland from the Aegean coast and less than 500 miles (700 km) south of Istanbul.

It can be said that Ephesus is one of the most beautiful ancient cities in the world. In ancient times its favorable location at the mouth of the Cayster River made it the foremost commercial city of a coastal region that also included the cities of Miletus, Smyrna and Pergamum. Unfortunately, the silting up of its harbor gradually resulted in the loss of its preeminence. The city has been excavated for more than one hundred years; the extensive remains are predominantly from the later Roman period.

This archaeological site ranks right up there with the Pyramids of in being one of the wonders of the world. Let your imagination run wild as you tread the paths of the Roman debauchers on their way to the brothel or to take a bath.

In its day, Ephesus must have been quite a place. It was, after all, the grandest and busiest hub of Asia Minor, where countless traders from Africa, Asia and Europe flocked to trade their wares, pay homage to the goddess Artemis and kick back in a chic city of 250,000.

Its day was nearly 2,000 years ago. And though the Romans, Macedonians and Alexandrians have been gone for millennia, it takes no more than a squint on a relentlessly sunny day to imagine the teeming harbor city that drew the Apostle Paul and other early Christians determined to convert the populace.

The throngs still come by the millions, on cruise ships and tours or wandering on their own, to see the most complete ruins of any Roman Empire site.

When friends who have visited here regale you with florid descriptions and gush, "You must visit. It's incredible," they aren't overselling the place.

The site is enough to make your eyes pop. The one-time civic area - a sprawl of columns, foundation and an amphitheater as impressive as many ancient cities - is only a prologue. From here, a wide thoroughfare leads nearly a mile between two small mountains, past hot-and-cold baths and an upscale public latrine (men only), beyond elaborate fountains and luxurious terrace houses, to the awe-inspiring, 50-foot-high facade of the marbled Library of Celsus.

The road turns, leading past the main marketplace, past the grand theater where 25,000 might have come to see gladiators in battle, and on to the stadium and gymnasium. Around every bend stands a delicate statue, graceful column or sweeping arch, intricately carved with a human figure, the head of a cow or a flourish of flowers and leaves. Only 15 percent of the site has been excavated by the joint efforts of Turks and Austrians.

A Christian community was probably formed in Ephesus the 50s A.D., almost half a century before Revelation was written. Among the community’s founders were Aquila and Priscilla, who had been tentmakers with the apostle Paul at Corinth, and a gifted speaker named Apollos. Paul himself worked in Ephesus for over two years (Acts 19:10) and wrote some of his letters from there (1 Cor 16:8). Local followers of John the Baptist responded well to his message, while many in the synagogue opposed him, and townspeople confused Paul’s healing ministry with magic (Acts 19:8-20). Severe resistance came from devotees of the goddess Artemis, who staged a demonstration against the Christians (Acts 19:23-41).
It is believed that the evangelist St. John had spent his last years in the region around Ephesus and is buried on the southern slope of Ayosolug Hill. Three hundred years after the death of Saint Paul, a small chapel was constructed over the grave in the 4th century. The church was changed into a marvelous basilica during the region of Emperor Justinian (527 -565 AD).

St. John the Baptist was beheaded at the request of Salome, daughter of Herodias, who asked for his head at the instigation of her mother. At such an unjustifiable execution even the Jews were shocked, and they attributed to Divine vengeance the defeat Herod sustained afterwards at the hands of Aretas, his rightful father-in-law (Joseph., loc. cit.). John's disciples, hearing of his death, "came, and took his body, and laid it in a tomb" (Mark, vi, 29), "and came and told Jesus" (Matt., xiv, 12).

His burial-place has been fixed by an old tradition at Sebaste (Samaria). But if there be any truth in Josephus's assertion, that John was put to death at Machaerus, it is hard to understand why he was buried so far from the Herodian fortress. Still, it is quite possible that, at a later date unknown to us, his sacred remains were carried to Sebaste. At any rate, about the middle of the fourth century, his tomb was there honoured, as we are informed on the testimony of Rufinus and Theodoretus. These authors add that the shrine was desecrated under Julian the Apostate (c. A.D. 362), the bones being partly burned. A portion of the rescued relics were carried to Jerusalem, then to Alexandria; and there, on 27 May, 395, these relics were laid in the gorgeous basilica just dedicated to the Precursor on the site of the once famous temple of Serapis. The tomb at Sebaste continued, nevertheless, to be visited by pious pilgrims, and St. Jerome bears witness to the miracles there wrought. Perhaps some of the relics had been brought back to Sebaste. Other portions at different times found their way to many sanctuaries of the Christian world, and long is the list of the churches claiming possession of some part of the precious treasure.

Ephesus is one of the cities that lays claim to all or part of St. John the Baptist’s remains.

According to one belief, the Virgin Mary came to Ephesus with Saint John (AD32-34), to whom Jesus Christ asked to take care of Mary just before being crucified (John 19:26). She stayed in a house, which was where the Church of Virgin Mary (or the Church of Council) is today, for a time. Then, Saint John took her to another house situated on Mount Bülbül. In time, this house where Mary spent the last days of her life was forgotten and became debris. Mary's being buried at Ephesus was first mentioned during the Council of Ephesus.

Another tradition, which may be trustworthy, though less ancient, makes Ephesus the scene of the death of St. Mary Magdalen.