We arrived in Izmir today at 8:00am. We took a shore excursion to Ephesus from NCL since it was too difficult to do this one on our own. We were in a small group of 14 people in a minivan.
Ephesus is in the western part of Turkey, near the historical town of Selcuk. About 250,000 people used to live in this famous city where the most skillful artisans and wealthy merchants gathered together. Celebrations were held every year during April to honor Artemis. Thousands of people came from as far away as Jerusalem and Athens to attend.
After its decline, Ephesus was abandoned and forgotten for a long time. Over a century ago, excavations of this ancient city began.
The Fountain of Trajan
The fountain was erected in dedication to Emperor Trajan in the 1st century AD. It had two stories, with a pool of water cascading underneath the emperor's massive statue. Twelve statues of Venus, Starun, Dionysos and the successors of the Imperial Family, were also discovered here.
The Temple of Hadrian
Terrace Houses
The terrace houses were used by the wealthy of Ephesus. Many of the houses were three stories tall and had inner courtyards. The rooms were decorated with frescoes and mosaics of mythological scenes. The houses also had hot and cold water as well as central heating.
The keystone of the arch has a relief of Tyche, the goddess of fortune. A relief of Medusa is found in the lunette over the entrance to the cella.
Terrace Houses
The terrace houses were used by the wealthy of Ephesus. Many of the houses were three stories tall and had inner courtyards. The rooms were decorated with frescoes and mosaics of mythological scenes. The houses also had hot and cold water as well as central heating.
Library of Celsus
This was the third largest library in the ancient world. It was built by Julius Aquila, in honor of his father, Celsus, the General Governor the of Province of Asia, in the year 135 AD. There used to be four statues symbolizing Justice, Virtue, etc. The niches in the walls were used for books. In front of the niches were low Ionian pillars, made into the shape of a table. An inscription at the northern end of the library in Latin, and another one at the southern end in Greek, are about Celsus and his son, Aquila. Celsus' sarcophagus lies in the crypt beneath the building.
View of the Library of Celsus from the Terrace Houses
After our guided tour of Ephesus, we were taken to a Turkish carpet showroom. It was interesting to watch the girls weave the rugs and learn about the process. The rugs were very beautiful, but not in my budget at this time.
No comments:
Post a Comment