Turkey > Aegean Region > Ephesus
Ephesus
N 37°56.462', E 27°20.551'
2008-11-07
http://www.ephesus.us
Our rating: 6.60
Overall rating: - Rate this place - 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Antique city of Ephesus is less known than Troy , but it is more interesting for tourists. It finally was abandoned only in the XV century and therefore better preserved. If you're like antient ruins, then choose Ephesus among all ancient cities of Turkey. Ephesus is known primarily because of one of the Seven Wonders - Temple of Artemis. We certainly knew that it has not survived, but had a little hope if suddenly something left. Unfortunately, nothing, there are only contours.
Ruins of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus ©Yuriy Buriak
Turks carefully placed some column in the center of the field and tells that its original. But the currently available information indicates that the original columns were 18 meters high. There are 127 of such columns and the size of the temple was 52 meters by 105 meters, which is approximately equal to a football field.
Reconstruction of the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus ©utexas.edu
Ephesus was built as a port city and developed rapidly. However, the sea began to recede and that was the reason for the decline. Now it is in 6 kilometers from the city! The ruins were found in 1869. If you are walking without a guide, be sure to take some map with a description. It will help to identify the places as much things are well preserved. The most famous building and the symbol of Ephesus is Celsus Library, which was built in 114-135 years during the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian. 12000 scrolls were stored inside (not too much in comparison to other ancient libraries). Its current facade was reconstructed in 1960-70s.
Library of Celsus in Ephesus ©Yuriy Buriak
The city had two theaters and bigger of them at the same time was the largest theater in the ancient world and could accommodate 25,000 spectators (at least I have not heard of bigger than this one).
Large theater in Ephesus ©Yuriy Buriak
Large theater in Ephesus ©Yuriy Buriak
Do not miss Ephesus toilet, it even cooler than toilets in Sochi :)
Toilet in Ephesus ©Yuriy Buriak
On some structures survived even the names and dates of construction. For example on the temple of Hadrian is written 135 AD.
Temple of Hadrian in Ephesus ©Yuriy Buriak
Church of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus ©Yuriy Buriak
Small theater in Ephesus ©Yuriy Buriak
The Memmius monument in Ephesus ©Yuriy Buriak
Fountain of Trajan (102—114) ©Yuriy Buriak
Ephesus ©Yuriy Buriak
Ephesus ©Yuriy Buriak
Cuteres street in Ephesus ©Yuriy Buriak
Ephesus ©Yuriy Buriak
Ephesus ©Yuriy Buriak
There is one more attraction - House of the Virgin Mary - in 10 kilometers from Selcuk and Ephesus. This is small building of VII century with basement dated to I century. In the 19th century scientists began to believe that mother of Jesus Christ spent her last years in this house. It became a place of pilgrimage. You have to take a taxi to visit it.
House of the Virgin Mary near Ephesus ©Yuriy Buriak
House of the Virgin Mary near Ephesus ©Yuriy Buriak
Monument to the Virgin Mary near Ephesus ©Yuriy Buriak
Several maps of Ephesus
Map of Ephesus ©capone-online.ru
Map of Ephesus ©ephesus.us
Reconstruction of Ephesus ©@
On this map you can see the location of the Temple of Artemis (Artemiseion).
Map of Ephesus ©planetware.com
Getting there: The ruins of Ephesus are located a few kilometers from the town of Selcuk. The nearest airport is Izmir (86 km). Some airlines offer a free shuttle to Selcuk. There is a small bus stop (Selçuk - Ephesus Otogar) in 2 kilometers from the airport where stands minibuses to Selcuk (1 hour, $3.5). Ask a taxi driver to find this place ($5). Also you can go by the train, which runs seven times a day. The train departs from Basmane Station (Izmir) at 07:45, 09:00, 11:25, 15:40, 16:30, 17:15 and 19:10 and passes the airport about 20 minutes after departure. You can also arrive by shuttle bus from Kusadasi (from bus station or Friday Market Avenue) or by bus from Istanbul (Varan bus lines, 10 hours, $35). At the bus station in Selcuk take a minibus to Ephesus (10 minutes).
Tags, Turkey: antique city , ruins Tags, all countries: antique city , ruins
- Rate this place -
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Our rating - 6.60
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Visitor's rating - 0.00
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help