The Ruins Of Ephesus In Turkey, Memory Of A Glorious Past

Ephesus was one of the most important cultural, commercial and religious centers of Asia Minor. Today, its ruins are one of the main tourist attractions in Turkey. If you are a history lover, you cannot miss Ephesus , will you join us?

Ephesus was considered one of the 12 Ionian cities that were located on the shores of the Aegean Sea. Today,  many ruins and memories of the solemn past of this city still stand, testifying to the important role it played in ancient times. Join us on this journey and discover with us all those places that you cannot miss in Ephesus.

The ruins of Ephesus

Ephesus stood out above other coastal cities for its commercial aspect, in fact, it was one of the most active commercial cities in the Anatolia region. On a cultural and religious level, the city was also considered one of the most important. In this sense, numerous archaeologists discovered a large number of temples, among which the one of Artemis stands out.

When you visit the ruins of Ephesus, you cannot miss its most spectacular and imposing library, synonymous with the great cultural level that characterized the inhabitants of this city. Celsus’s library still has its façade in excellent condition.  Some experts explain that it was built towards the south to try to make the most of the sunlight.

Many temples, ancient monuments, palaces, theaters and public places are what make up the ruins of Ephesus. You will need to organize your time very well to be able to know them all. It is for that reason that we bring you some of the most emblematic and impressive sites that cannot be missing from your list:

• Marble avenue
• The gate of Mihidrates and Mazues

• The amphitheater
• Hadrian’s temple
• Celsus’s library
• The Agora of Commerce
• The temple of Domitian
• Trajan’s fountain

What you can’t miss

The Celso library captures a good part of the attention, but you also have to dedicate time to other places that stand out for their great historical value. Some of them are:

Basilica of Saint John of Ephesus

This basilica was built in 548 by order of Emperor Justinian  at the foot of the ancient acropolis. The purpose of this important building was to pay tribute to the apostle John, who died here.

Unfortunately, only the ruins of this important building remain ; however, some beautiful details can still be seen that show the Byzantine style that once characterized it.

Temple of Artemis

It was an impressive construction whose works lasted for 120 years. It was a small temple sheltered inside a forest of more than a hundred columns 20 meters high.

The temple was razed by fire. Rebuilt by order of Alexander the Great, it was sacked and destroyed by the Goths in 262. For this reason, there are few remains of that magnificent building.

Church of Mary

The Church of Mary is an ancient Christian cathedral dedicated to the mother of God. This important temple dates from the early 5th century  and is believed to have been built on the ruins of a Roman basilica. Some experts estimate that the church was expanded a few decades later.

Ephesus is one of those archaeological jewels that Turkey keeps, so when you visit this magnificent country you cannot miss this ancient and wonderful city. Without a doubt, it is one of those destinations that cannot be missed, especially if you are passionate about history. Do you dare to know Ephesus?