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Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Ancient Ephesus



By

Brian Freeman

    • Ephesus was once a major trade centre of the ancient world, and a religious centre of the early Christianity.

    • Ephesus remains a sacred site for Christians due to its association with several biblical figures, including St. Paul, St. John the Evangelist and the Virgin Mary.

    • Ephesus was also the home of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Sadly only lone surviving column and foundation remain.

    • Interesting: The "Seven Sleepers" were seven young men who had been walled up in a cave during the persecutions under Decius (c.250A.D.). They fell asleep, miraculously waking up around 435A.D. in the time of Theodosius II.

It is believed that the Virgin Mary lived and died in Ephesus during the second quarter of the 1st century A.D. and that is why the first church dedicated to her was erected in Ephesus. The Church of Mary was also the site of the Council of Ephesus in 431A.D.

Main gateway to the castle of Ayasoluk, 6th century A.D. Basilica of St. John Isa Bey Mosque Temple of Artemis Vedius Gymnasium Staduim Reign of Nero(A.D.54-68) City wall of Byzantine Byzantine baths, 6th century A.D. Church of Virgin Mary Harbor gymnasium Baths Theatre gymnasium Arkadiane Hellenistic fountain Theatre that Paul preached in. Marble road Commercial agora or market place. Temple of Serpis Celsus Library Scholastika Baths 21-26. Odeion, Baths, Fountain, Isis Temple, Cemetery 27. East gymnasium 28. Magnesian Gate 29. City wall, built by Lysimachos. image

    • The Basilica of St. John was a great church in Ephesus constructed by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century. It stands over the believed burial site of St. John, who is identified as the apostle, evangelist (author of the Fourth Gospel) and prophet (author of Revelation).

The traditionaltomb of St. John, located under the main central dome, elevated the site to one of the most sacred sites in the Middle Ages and thousands made pilgrimage here. The building was destroyed in 1402 A.D. by Tamerlane's Mongol army.

image

The Theater is built into the northern base of

Panayirdag (Mt. Pion).

Construction of the Great Theater of Ephesus may have begun during Hellenistic times: Lysimachus(281 BC) is traditionally credited with building the theater. Theater rises 30m (100 feet) high and can seat 25,000 people. image

    • This Great Theater is where Paul preached to the pagans.

    • Paul delivered a sermon condemning pagan worship in this theater, and according to the Acts of the Apostles (19:23-41), the theater was the site of the "riot of the silversmiths" in which those who made silver figures of Artemis rioted because Paul's preaching was bad for business:

Sources: Arkurgal, Ekrem. Ancient Civilizations and Ruins of Turkey. Net Turistik Yayinlar, 1993. Mcray, John. Archaeology and the New Testament. Michigan: Baker Book House, 1991.
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