Ephesus Docking in Kusadasi, Turkey, the charming, picturesque resort where Antony and Cleopatra used to vacation is best known as the port for the ancients ruins of Ephesus - one of the world's most wondrous archaeological sites.
The building was unique because it was made entirely of marble except for a tile-covered wooden floor. This is why the structure is often referred to as the "Great Marble Temple". There were also beautiful marble steps leading to a terrace. The most fascinating characteristic of the temple was that it had more than one hundred columns that were 20 meters high. The Temple of Artemis was considered to be the largest structure of that time and people traveled vast distances to see it. There were many Jews from Anatolia in Jerusalem during the time of Christ. They had witnessed the execution of Jesus Christ and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Many stayed for St Peter's sermon and returned home as Christians, becoming the first ones in Anatolia . They traveled and spread the gospel throughout Asia Minor . When St Paul arrived in Ephesus in 53 AD, he found a small group of Christians already there. Yet Christianity was not of great importance. It was initially treated as any other religion and neither feared nor especially revered. George Bean wrote: "But the enemy who was finally to humble the proud Ephesian Artemis was already at hand. Christianity took root quickly in Ephesus ." Christianity came to the world, and in 57 AD, St. Paul came there on one of his missionary journeys. The pilgrims that traveled to the temple were drawn to the new religion. Instead of spending their money for little shrines of the temple, they returned home taking the new religion with them. Many years passed and in 263 AD the Goths burned down the Temple of Artemis and destroyed the city. Roman Emperor Constantine repaired much of Ephesus a century later but he rejected the idea of restoring the temple. He had become a Christian and had little interest in pagan temples. Ephesus declined in its importance as a city of commerce. There is a foundation in front of the Odeum of the city. It is thought to be the foundation of an ancient temple that was later converted into a church. A bull's head carved in the doorjamb once led people to believe that this was the tomb of St. Luke since the bull's head was an ancient symbol for him. When Paul returned from Corinth to Ephesus, he stayed briefly in the city and talked to the people of Ephesus in the synagogue where he was asked to stay longer. He promised and said, "I shall come back to you if it is God's will" (Acts 18:18 -20) and he left Ephesus for Phoenicia and Jerusalem.
Basilica of St. John
The cottage is a typical Roman architectural example, entirely made of stones. In the 4th century AD, a church, combining her house and grave, was built. The original two-stored house, which consisted of an anteroom, bedroom and praying room (Christian church area) and a room with fireplace (chapel for Muslims) is still there. A front kitchen fell into ruins and was restored in 1940's. Today, only the central part and a room on the right of the altar are open to visitors.
Pictures at top courtesy of www.bibleplaces.com |
One night in July 356 BC, a man named Herostratus burned the temple to ground in an attempt to immortalize his name. He did indeed. Strangely enough, Alexander the Great was born the same night. The historian Plutarch later wrote that the goddess was "too busy taking care of the birth of Alexander to send help to her threatened temple". The crime of Herostratus was so enormous that his name was erased from the public records, yet indirectly it resulted in great good to the goddess, to the city, and to the entire world. Afterwards, a more exquisite temple was built on the same site. Over the next two decades, the temple was restored. And when Alexander the Great conquered Asia Minor, he helped rebuild the destroyed temple. 
On his next journey to Ephesus, Paul stayed longer and taught to his followers all the details of the Christian faith, during this two year period. His relations with the locals started to go bitter when he preached that "gods made by human hands are not gods at all" (Acts 19:26 ). After a public speech the angry citizens of Ephesus , led by Demetrius, a leader of the silversmiths rioted. Paul was saved from the uproar of the people by the city clerk. However, it was apparent to Paul that he had better leave the city as soon as possible. Calling his followers together, he said goodbye to them with words of encouragement and set off for Macedonia (Acts 19:28 , 20:1). 
The monumental basilica was in the shape of a cross and was covered with six domes. It's construction, being of brick, is an extremely rare find amongst the architecture of its time. Raised by two steps and covered with marble, the tomb of St John was under the central dome, which was once carried by the four columns at the corners. The columns in the courtyard reveal the monograms of Emperor Justinian and his wife Theodora. Constructed in the 5th century AD, the baptistery is north of the nave, with its key hole shape. Rampart walls around the church were constructed for protection from the Arabian attracts in the 7th - 8th centuries AD, The impressive 10th century AD frescoes representing St John , Jesus and a Saint, ornament the chapel. With the invasion of Turks, the chapel was used as a mosque in the 14th century; unfortunately the Basilica of Saint John became unusable due to the serious earthquake in the same century. 
Another interesting place is the "Water of Mary", a source to be found at the exit of the church area and where salty water, with curative properties, can be drunk by all. 
