The Aegean coast of Anatolia has been a popular area for civilizations for thousands of years thanks to its port and mild climate. Among its many treasures, the Ephesus Ancient City, which flourished during the Hellenistic and Roman periods, stands as a testament to the grandeur of the past. Located in today’s Selcuk, Izmir, the region was constantly inhabited from six thousand BC to the 14th century AD. It became one of the eight wonders of the world in the Early Period and then the capital of Asia Province of the Roman Empire. In 2015, UNESCO added the Ancient City of Ephesus to its World Heritage List.
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Historical Background of Ephesus Ancient City
Ephesus Ancient City was established in the 8th century BC. The city’s first inhabitants were Ionians from Greece who came to Anatolia. The town wasn’t based in its current place, though. Ionians settled in a coastal town near today’s Ephesus, establishing the city around the Temple of Artemis.
This sacred place dedicated to Artemis of Ephesus is the oldest temple of Greek civilization. It functioned not only as a religious center but also as a bank of ancient times. People who passed by the port confided their money to the Mother Goddess. The area has been the center of Christian belief as well. It’s believed that in the early period of Christianity, Saint John and the Virgin Mary lived and died in Ephesus. That’s why The House of Virgin Mary is a pilgrimage for Christians today.
Although the first location of the ancient city was helpful as a trade center and religious place, Ephesus had to be relocated many times due to alluvions.
Key Attractions of Ephesus Ancient City
Ephesus Ancient City is one of Anatolia’s most extensive and wealthiest ancient cities, so there are many places to see on the site. We listed some of the must-see attractions that were significant during ancient times.
Library of Celsus
The Library of Celsus in Ephesus is one of the most well-known archaeological structures. Being the third richest library of ancient times, Celsus could manage 12.000 scrolls. Those scrolls were kept in little holes in the walls, which you can see inside the building, to prevent them from heat and dampness.
Consul Gaius Julius Aquila had the library built in his father’s honor, Gaius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus, according to the inscription on the building’s front staircase. The library was completed in 135 AD, and Celsus’s body was placed in a white marble sarcophagus in a crypt beneath the building.
Four marble statues on the façade represent Sofia (Wisdom), Arete (Virtue), Ennoia (Insight), and Episteme (Knowledge). Originals of the statues are in Ephesus Museum in Vienna in 1910. The Library columns are ornamented with myth depictions, such as Eros and Psyche darting from acanthus leaves and Bellerophon riding Pegasus.
Ephesus Theater
The Theater of Ephesus is one of the first buildings you will see on the historical site. The Tunnel Vault system wasn’t developed until the Roman Period, so Hellenistic theaters were set on a natural slope. Moreover, there weren’t stage buildings, or there was a small one not to block the beautiful view. Dating back to the 3rd century BC, the Theater of Ephesus is just like one of the Hellenistic theaters. It was renovated and enlarged during the Roman Era when its capacity reached nearly 24.000 viewers.
Thanks to its large capacity, the Theater of Ephesus became the biggest theater in Anatolia and has hosted many concerts and cultural events. One of the most famous events is the 1987 Ray Charles concert. Nearly 35,000 tickets were sold for the event. Most recently, the 7th International Ephesus Opera and Ballet Festival was held between June 29 and July 13. Some of the best works of history, such as Swan Lake, Tosca, and The Marriage of Figaro, took the stage during the festival.
Curetes Street
Curetes Street is one of the city’s main streets. It derives its name from the Ephesus elites, called Curetes. You can see the Theatre, Library of Celsus, and Hercules Gate along this street. It was like the city’s heart, with houses of elite people, many shops, and statues.
Terrace Houses
Terrace Houses were the area where the elite Ephesians resided. These houses are known for their beautiful mosaics. One example is a mosaic depicting a lion holding a bull’s head between its claws. It dates back to the mid-2nd century AD and was found in a reception room within Terrace House II. Other examples include a mosaic depicting Nereid and Triton, dated to approximately AD 220-230, and mosaics depicting the heads of Dionysus and Medusa. These floor mosaics were widely used in private residences in the city.
Although the area is completely protected, two houses are open to visitors.
Odeon
In addition to the Theater, the ancient city also had an Odeon. Built similar to a Hellenistic theater, the Odeon was used for concerts and as a meeting hall for the Senate. It had a much smaller capacity than the Theater, nearly 1500 seats.
Hercules Gate
Named after the demi-god Hercules, the construction of this building dates back to the 5th-4th century AD. The well-preserved two columns depict Hercules with the skin of a Nemean lion. Killing the Nemean lion was Herakles’ first and most famous mission since it gave him his iconic appearance. As the myth tells, King Eurystheus sent the Nemean lion, a colossal lion whose skin could not be pierced by any weapon and which terrorized the countryside, to remove Hercules. Hercules wrestled with the animal until he broke its neck. After completing the task, which took 30 days, Hercules began to use the skin of the Nemean lion as a cloak.
Prytaneion
Prytaneion is the place where the city flame was set. The flame was constantly alight, and the people of Ephesus used to come here to take flames for their hearths. There is even a phrase in Turkish. If you stop by a friend and intend to leave immediately, the friend says, “Did you come to take flame?” referring to Prytaneion.
Temple of Hadrian
The Temple of Hadrian was built by Quintilius in the 2nd century AD. It was dedicated to the Roman Emperor Hadrian, during whose reign the empire had its golden years. The Romans experienced the most extensive and most prosperous period during his reign.
The temple welcomes you with four Corinthian-style columns, which carry a vault with the figure of the goddess of Tyche (identified as Fortuna in Roman mythology) on its front side. As you walk inside the temple, you can see the relief of Medusa at the arch of the door. The motifs on the door also depict significant events such as the founding myth of Ephesus, Herakles’ fight with Theseus, and Amazons. The reliefs are different from the original ones, though. You can see the original friezes at Ephesus Museum.
Latrines
Latrines were the city’s public toilets. Citizens had to pay a fee for entrance. There was a pool in the middle and toilets around it. The water was constantly running, and the building had a drainage system.
Visiting Tips
Thanks to the mild climate of the Aegean Region of Turkey, you can visit Ephesus Ancient City all year round. However, as it’s a big site and the surface is inclined, you may get hot even in winter. If you want to see the site during the summer, remember to put on your hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
Ephesus entrance fee is €15. You can also visit the Ephesus Museum for €10. The cost of the whole package of the Ephesus archaeological site and Digital Experience Museum is €40.
The archaeological site and the museum are open to visitors between 08:00 and 19:00 in summer and between 08:00 and 17:30 in winter.
There have been night tours in Ephesus recently. You shouldn’t miss the opportunity to see the treasures of Ephesus in the moonlight.
How to Get to Ephesus Ancient City?
You can quickly reach Ephesus Ancient City from the Izmir city center. Take the Selçuk minibusses from the Izmir Intercity Bus Terminal or take the İZBAN to Selçuk first. İZBAN is the most practical option for those without a vehicle. First, you go from Izmir to Tepeköy İZBAN Station, where you can change trains for Selçuk without any cost.
Once you arrive in Selçuk, you can take minibusses from Selçuk Bus Terminal, located in Selçuk district center. It takes nearly 15 minutes to get to the archaeological site.
There is a distance of 80 km between Izmir and Selçuk. This distance takes around one hour by minibus and one hour 30 minutes by İZBAN. If you have a private vehicle, follow the Izmir-Aydın Highway and exit at the Selçuk junction.
Conclusion
We briefly reviewed the history of Ephesus and listed some of its most important tourist attractions. But the area isn’t comprised solely of the ancient city. There are also other important places to see.
As one of the main tourist attractions in the world, Ephesus Ancient City hosts millions of tourists each year. It’s impossible to squeeze thousands of years of culture and history into an article, and one can only feel the spirit of those times if one strides through the city streets. If you are an archaeology buff, Ephesus must be the number one of your “places to see” list. You should take two days to see the whole area thoroughly.
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