Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
See Ephesus and the surrounding area from above with
Selcuk Ephesus SkyDiving
(
Selçuk Airport, just east of Ephesus.
Sights
Ephesus takes 1½ to two hours (add 30 minutes if visiting the Terraced Houses). Take a
hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and water; overpriced shops at the top entrance sell some of
these. The site lacks restrooms. Most individual ruins have English-language signage.
The following itinerary starts from the Magnesia (Upper) Gate and proceeds down the
Curetes Way to the Lower Gate.
UPPER EPHESUS
First you'll encounter the
Varius Baths
, situated at the main entrances so that visitors
could wash before entering.
Next comes the
Upper Agora
, a large square used for legislation and local political
talk. The structure was originally flanked by grand columns and filled with polished
marble. In the middle was a small
Temple of Isis
; a testament to the cultural and trade
connections between Ephesus and Alexandria (Egypt).
The
Odeon
, a 5000-seat theatre, was primarily used for municipal meetings. The once-
lavish building boasts marble seats and carved ornamentation.
Two of six original Doric columns mark the entrance to the ruined
Prytaneum
(town
hall) and city treasury.
The Prytaneum also hosted the
Temple of Hestia Boulaea
, where the city's eternal
flame was tended to by vestal virgins, and was fronted by a giant Artemis statue. The fer-
tility goddess was carved with huge breasts and welcoming arms.
A side street called the Sacred Street led to Ephesus'
Asclepion
(hospital). Protected by
the god Asclepius and his daughter Hygieia, doctors used the Asclepian snake symbol, of-
ten etched into the stone.
The ruined
Temple of Domitian
was built when the unpopular ruler, who persecuted
Christians, demanded a temple in his honour. It was demolished when he died.
The
Pollio Fountain
and
Memius Monument
hint at the lavish nature of ancient
Ephesus' fountains, which filled the city with the relaxing sound of rushing water.
| Ruin
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