Escorted Cultural Tour Itineraries

According to the antique era writers Ephesus was found around 3000 B.C., like Symrna. When Symrna was found, Ephesus was among the important harbor cities of the period. The Ionians which had settled on the Agean coast after the Dor invasion, settled in Ephesus. In the period of the Lydian reign they developed their city. The traces of the Ionian, Roman, Byzantian. Selçuks and Ottoman civilizations can still be seen today. After the earthquake during the Roman period the people of Ephesus cultivated their city in the time of Tiberius. But this time instead of a Hellenistic construction style all of Ephesus was filled with constructions reflecting the Roman character. Ephesus which was growing more important politically and commercially, became an important religious center with the arrival of Virgin Mary and the fact that St. Jean lived there. Later the city was abandoned because it was imposible to live there after the busy harbors on the sea route between Sardis and susa were filled as time passed. The people settled around the basilica of St. Jean which was built on Ayasuluk Peak by the Byzantion emperor Justinyen (527-565). In 1090 the city passed into the control of the Turks. In this way the city was reconstructed five times in history because of different invasions or earthquakes. The remains which we seen in the city are from third reconstruction of Ephesus.Ephesus is in the boundries of the district of Selçuk today.

As we have mentioned above Ephesus and Selçuk are the richest cities in terms of historical and archeological constructions with their remains >from almost every civilization. Especially the Ephesus ruins and the Ephesus Museum attract a great number of tourists with the works of art they possess.

The first remains we come across at the Ephesus Ruins belong to the Vedius Gymnasion.

It was built by an Ephesian in the name of Vedius Antonius in the second century A.D. It is a magnificent construction, in which sports and cultural education was given, with its courtyard on the East, ceremony hall in the middle, and changing room and Turkish Baths reflecting the characteristics of the period.

On the left side from the Vedius Gymnasion toward the ruins there dimensions 230*40 m. has been set on the northern slopes of the Panayır Mountain and its eastern front was placed on natural stones. In the eastern division of the stadion which is asserted to have been built in the period of the Roman Empire Neron (54-68 B.C.) there is a division for the gladiator games and another division for animals. The stadium in which all kinds of sporting races, games, olympic organizations and chariot races were held, met all the sporting and cultural needs of the period.Ivory Figurines Artemision 7th Cent. B.C.

A construction across from the stadium is present on the peak, considered as the Acropol, dating back to the 6^th century B.C. On the nortwest of the peak there is a temple dating back to the year 350 B.C.

The Byzantian Baths apear after the stadium. It is called the ‘’drunk peoples bath ‘’ because of the numerous large earthware jars dating back to the 6^th century A.D. It possesses a large sauna and many bath divisions.

The Double Churches which is located across from the Byzantian Baths, has an extremely special importance for the Christian world. The Churches, in which councils gathered between 431 and 438, is a constructions with the dimensions 265*29.5 m. The church which was dedicated to Virgin Mary was turned into a basilika in the 2^nd century A.D. during the Roman period. Catholicism was born here after the 3^rd council meeting here. The church is important because it is one of the first seven Christian Churches in the world.Golden Goddess and Pin Artemision 7th Cent. B.C.

A construction with hef was added to its west side an a large atrium was found past the Western entrance, while the bazilika was being turned into a church in the 4^th century A.D. A nartexten with a mosaic floor must be passed through to pass to the church division. A baptism pool is found in the center of the baptism area and there are crucifix figures on the walls.

A second church was built in the 7^th century A.D. with a door which opened from the aspisis of the church. The name of the church became known as the ‘’Double Churches’’. This newly opened division includes the portions reserved for the dwelling of religious men. The church and its surroundings are a center of religion because of the fact that it is the first church presented in the name of Virgin Mary.

Many few remains of the Gymnasium, which dates back to the second century A.D. and is located on the right side of Arkadiane, have survived to our day. Here there is a courtyard in which athletism games were held and a portico which surrounds this courtyard. The sitting places on the north of the symetric planned structure can be clearly seen.

The theatre, which is one of the most spectacular structures of the Ephesus ruins, is highly well-built and was easily used for festivals like the Ephesus Festival a short period ago. But because it was used too much and erosion began the restoration work was started again and it was taken into security. It is known that the theatre, which has a capacity of holding 25000 people, was first built in the Hellenistic era, but the theatre that is seen today started its reconstruction in the time of the emperor Claudius and was completed in the time of the emperor Trianus in the period between 98-117 A.D.

Changing rooms, which are very sturdy and made of large stones, can be seen clearly in the front part of the theatre. There is a Hellenistic fountain with two ionic columns on the north west of the theater. The theater, which was made of three floors in the first period, was made up of three sections each which had 22 steps. The stage building is 18 m. High. It is said that St. Paul adressed the Ephesusians from this theater and he faced a big reaction for this. The back walls of the stage which has the dimensions 25*40, is highly decorated and there are statues inside of nisches.

The Marble paved Street, which stretches about 400 m’s. From the Magnesia door found at the southeast of Ephesus to the Koresos door found at the nortwest, was remade in the 5^th century A.D. The sewer system which passes under it stretches to the sea. The west wing of the street was built by the emperor Neron between 58 and 68 A.D. The portikoya, which is at a level higher than the street, opens up to te second floor the Trade Agora. It is known that there was an Auditorium in the open area between the Marble Street and the Celsus Library, in which discussions and speeches using poems were made.

The construction of the Celsus Library, located next to the Trade Agora, was ordered by Julius Aquila in the name of his father the Asian Consultant Julius Celsus Palemaeanus. It was built by the Roman architect Vitruoya. Its dimensions are 60.9*16.72 m. On the outside it has two floors, and in the inside it has only one 15 m. Salon. Light comes in through the windows scattered on the walls and ttthe three floored galeries. There is a passage to Celsus’s grave through a door on the back wall. The statue that was located here is now in the Istanbul Archeological Museum. The decoration of the front totally reflects the Roman architectural style and is the most beautiful examples of its time. The four woman statues found between the colons of the front symbolize the elements of ‘’mind’’, ‘’Fate’’, ‘’Knowledge’’ and ‘’Virtue’’. The originals of these statues are found in the Vienne Museum today. The parsomen book rolls used to be protected from the humidity with shelves closed by brick on both sides. This library brought up counted scientists and philosophers of the world in its time. The front of library has greatly attained its old appearance with the restorations of the past years.

The House of Love: Golden Jewelries Artemision 7/6 Cent. B.C.

The House of Love is found at the point the Marble Street cuts the Kuretler Street. This fascinating house, which dates back to the first century A.D. is made up of a main hall and many rooms which open up to this hall. The mozaik girl portraits found here must have belonged to the girls working here. This large building, which covers an area of 12000 m 2, is thought to have been built first as a bath and then turned into a House of Love in the Roman period. The area it covers is larger compared to the areas covered by the modern hotels of today. It is interesting to find a warming and cooling system equivalent to that of the modern cooling system of today inside the walls of the house of love. Inside it, it contains wine cellars, gigantic ovens, baths, pools, bedrooms, conferance salons and a great library.

This bath which is dated to 400 A.D. was ordered to be errected by a wealthy Roman woman who was called ‘’Scolastica’’ lived in Ephesus. In this bath that comprises four segments, there is a poo at the colaness segment, further the hot water vapor is passed by the walls with kunches(künk). The bath which is warmed up by central-system is fascinating sample of the marble usage.

Hadrian Temple is one of the most graceful constructions of the Kuretler Street. A front pediment remained from this temple. The temple is corintian style. There are two circular columns and a rectengular rank on the flank side in the entrance. The reliefs of the name of Hadrian and Tyche (godess of fate) are seen on the base of the pediment. Like many Anatolian cities, Ephesus city necessiated the demand of severing a temple for Emperor Devotian Place and this temple is the second holy construction that is restricted for the emperor, after the Domitian Temple. Cities were designated with the protectors of the temple while their names were emphasized. Hence, Hadrian Temple was not included to this category, because it was consecrated to the king by a person. The most interesting mythologic panaroma was the one that was depicted on the Temple’s architrav was the panoroma of slaughtering of the pig by the mythologic king Androklos who was the originater of Ephesus.

Trajan Fountain:

It is situated after passing the Hadrian Temple, a little on the left. The fountain is 5.20*11.90 meters of dimension. It encircles a big pool by three sides. The construction is two-staged and the water was flowing down from the Emperor Trajan Sculpture which heighs up two stages pool. Corintian columns are utilized on the top stage and a composit is used on the ground stage in the fountain which was made in 2 A.D. The sculptures that adorns the stages of the fountain are demostrated in the Ephesus Museum.

There were houses after twirling from Celsus Library to Kuretler Street, on the right at Bülbül Mountain’s slopes where the wealthy people of Ephesus existed. These houses which were restored recently attained closer to its origin, they inaugurate verticaly to the street with extensive steps. There are fresks and marbles that were garnished with mosaics on their walls.

It is the earliest temple that was errected in the name of an Emperor in Ephesus. It was settled just across the state Agora which was the most elegant and central side of the city. It is 50*100 m. of extent. A terrace was constructured over the low-vaulted structures. The shops took their places on the ground floor that beholded to the square. The Terrace was used as a mabett (place of worship). The great dimensional Domitian that only its head and arm endured is exhibited in Izmir Archeological Museum today and its induction altar is display in Ephesus Museum.

The State Agora appears after you walk along Kuretler Street that is surrounded by columns and pass the two Herakles reliefs which narrow down the road. Remnants belonging to the ancient eras have been found under neath the State Agora. A basilika that is 165 m. high and Roman made in the first century A.D. and is reached by climbing up four steps is found in the Agora, which had the same function the trade stock exchange of Efes had. Religious and official ceremonies took place here. Also trade was made in the control of the state here.

The Hestia temple which is found on the right side of the municipality palace was considered the holy point of Ephesus. A sacred fire always burned in the temple. It was the place where the political work of Prytaneion was performed and important ceremonies, banquest and acceptances were made. The first finding of a Ephesian Artemis here shows how emportant Prytaneion was religiously.

Odeon, which was made by Public Vedius Antonius, a rich Ephesusian in the 2^nd century A.D., used to be covered with wood. It has a capacity of 1450 seats. It was a place in which official meetings were held and concerts were given.

After the temple was destroyed after an earthquake the Ephesusians rebuilt a more glorious one with the help of the Roman emperor. After Alexander the Great came to Anatolia it is said that he wanted the temple to be in his name, but the Ephesusians did not accept it so they completed the temple on their own. Of the Ephesus Artemib Temple, which is known as one of the seven beauties of the world, only the base remnants remain today.

It is stated that the belief in the virgin goddess of nature Artemis is an Anatolian based belief and it is based on Kibele, the main goddess of the Hittites. In Ephesus these two goddesses were a symbol of abundance and fruitfulness. The temple, which we see the remains of on the right side of the entrance to the Kuşadası road, is made up of 127 columns and 36 of the columns in the front have reliefs. The temple is 125m. long, 60m. wide and 25m. high. The oldest remains of the temple date back to the 6^th century B.C. The temple which was lastly invaded by the Got’s in 263 A.D., was destroyed and plundered.

The St. Jean Basilika: Bronze Animal Figurines Artemision 8th Cent. B.C.

The Basilika, which was made in the name of St. Jean by the Byzantian emperor Justinyen in the 6^th century A.D., is located on the Ayasuluk Peak. The ediface, which has the dimensions 40*110 m. and is entered from the west, is the shape of a cross. The real church section is covered with six big domes carriedby thick elephants feet. The nartex is covered with 5 domes. There are sections in which priests lived in the middle of the basilika, under the dome and on the east side of St. Jean’s tomb which is underground. These structures separate from the church in a half circular form. Frescos made up of pictures of saint are found on the north of the grave area. Monograms of the Emperor Justinyen and his wife Theodora are found on the heads of the columns which were restored in the church. St. Jeans grave is under the section of the dome in the center. It is believed that the sacred dust that comes out of a hole in the grave is good for curing illnesses. St. Jeans grave has been one of the most important places in the world throughout the medieval ages.

It is believed that the place of the seven sleepers was built in the period around the 5^th and the 6^th century. It is a center of religion. According to the legend, before the acceptance of Christianity as an official religion, seven young people ran away from pagans and took refuge here and they fell asleap and woke up 200 years later. When they woke up christianity had become an official religion. After this miraculous event it is believed that the 7 people were buried here again after they died and a large structure was made in their name. In the excavations a large structure, mostly carved rock grave remains two churches and catacombs were found. The remains of which we can see four floors of is possibly seven floors in total. The corridors found on the ground floor which were used for religious education, gives it the appearance of a monastary.

The House of Virgin Mary, the sacred mother

of Christianity is situated on the Bülbül(Canary) Mountain. It is believed that the holy place, also called ‘’Panaya Kapulu’’ by Christians, was built in the 4^th century A.D. Mary was handed over by Christ to St. Jean, Mary’s friend and a postle right before he was crucified. After Christ was crucified St. Jean thought it was dangerous for Mary to stay in Bethlehem so he carried her off and brought her here. Eventhough these rumors became legends, there are indications of proof that it is real.

St. Jean who was given the sacred duty of spreading the religion of Christianity chose. Ephesus, the greatest city of the era, as a larget. He hid Mary in a cabin in a corner covered by dense trees at the feet of the Bülbül Mountains because he did not want to let Mary into the Pagans land. It is known that St. Jean secretly visited her everyday, brought her food and something to drink, and checked on her. It is stated that the holy virgin lived in the Bülbül Mountains until she was 101 and she died here. St. Jean buried Virgin Mary somewhere on this mountain where nobody else knows. A cross shaped church was built by the Christians who found the place of Virgin Mary with the guidance of a German nun who was paralyzed and could not come to Turkey, after Christianity was spread.

One of the first seven churches built in the name of Virgin Mary was erected in Ephesus. The Christian people around Ephesus continued a tradition which came from their ancesters and organized religios ceremonies for Virgin Mary every year on August 15^th. This and similar signs seem to prove that the Virgin Mary spent the last years of her life around Ephesus. Based on this fact the Papacy approved that this was Virgin Mary’s House in 1957 and it has become a place that is famous for its visits by Christians as well as Muslims.

SELÇUK İSABEY MOSQUE

Selçuk İsabey Mosque is on of the most important structures of Aydınoğulları Beyliğİ (dynasty) ; a dynasty of the Selçuks. The mosque was erected in 1375 by Aydınoğlu İsabey , the son of Mehmet Bey from Aydınoğulları dynasty. It was designed and built by architect Ali of Damascus.One third of the Structure covers part of the mosque and two thirds of it is the courtyard.

The courtyard has a smooth wooden roof, colonnade and an octagon pool. It shows the transition to the Classic period Ottoman architecture. At the present time , the colonnades in the courtyard are lost. Twelve pillars whic h surrounded this courtyard still stands. Two long nave with a smooth wooden roof, being parallel to the mihrap, intersects through the tow domes in this mosque (Crosswise nave). You can enter the real mosque building trough a gate vay with Three arches.

The triangle pendentives of the dome in front of the altar is filled with turqoise, dark blue and brown mosaic porcellains, small hexagon plagues and is Ornamented with hexagon geometrical stars. There are stalectite fiilling with turquoise porcelain pieces on the octagon tembour of the cupole. The filling is a reminder of the Selçuks Style.

The Mosque seem like Diyarbakır Ulu Mosque and Artukoğulları remains the scheme. There were one-brick minarets on the eas and west gateway on the west facades is a niche with the grooved archmoulding and with colorful st one Decorations on stalactite rows. The windows and the door are embelished with rich ornamentation. In the earlier building there were wooden arches upholding the tow sides of the domes.

İsabey Mosque was vanguarded with its architectural facade and the order of the colonnade courtyard to the first grand Ottoman Period’s structures in Bursa, Edirne and İstanbul. Travelling to Turkey is providing best oportunity to be here in EPHESUS.

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