Where Ancient Civilizations Rest
As one of the most well-preserved Roman ruins in the world, and the site of several important Christian landmarks, Ephesus draws travelers from all over the world who seek to gain an understanding of the once-great Roman Empire and the early days of Christianity. Built in the 10th century BC, the ancient city of Ephesus was an influential port city that controlled the trade and commerce of this corner of the world. Transport yourself back to a time when Roman soldiers, philosophers, and disciples walked through these once-magnificent streets and structures during your trip to Ephesus.
Open Air Museum
With its ancient city, marble columns, and detailed carvings, Ephesus is a veritable open air museum, positively solidifying its UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Historians and Christians have made the pilgrimage to Ephesus over the years to observe its architectural wonders and because it has the most well-preserved Roman ruins in the world, it should not be missed.
Founded in the 8th century BCE and built in the 10th century BCE, Ephesus was a Greek colony on the eastern coast of Asia Minor before coming under Roman rule in 133 BCE. The Greek goddess Artemis’s (Diana to the Romans) birthplace was considered to be nearby, and the magnificent structure of Ephesus’ Temple of Artemis was once listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Under the Roman Empire, Ephesus was also the earliest banking center of the world.
Ephesus is also home to the last house where the Virgin Mother lived before her Assumption—it’s believed that she was taken here by John the Apostle shortly after the Crucifixion. Above John’s own gravesite lies St. John Basilica, a unique example of architecture. When visiting Ephesus, most people stay in nearby Selçuk, and there are plenty of sights to explore in the city to bookend your Ephesus trip. Selçuk itself is a charming, laid back town where you can relax after a long day of exploring Ephesus.
Highlights of Ephesus
Wander the Ruins of Ephesus’ Ancient City
Ephesus is filled with breathtaking architecture that evokes the history of this Biblically-significant city and is home to one of the former seven wonders of the ancient world, the Temple of Artemis, and the papally-declared shrine, the House of the Virgin Mary. Towering over the city is the Great Theatre, a stunning feat of architecture that could seat an unbelievable 25,000 people, where the Apostle Paul preached the Gospel to the Ephesians. The Theatre also served as an arena for political, religious, and philosophical debates and housed gladiator fights and plays.
Learn about how the wealthy lived in Ephesus at the Roman terrace houses that sit on Bulbul Mountain. Inside, the homes are covered with wall and floor mosaics that give insight into how upper class Ephesians lived. Ephesus is also home to the grandiose Celsius library, which held 12,000 scrolls and was a social hub for philosophers and creative artisans alike.
Ephesus’ Lost Wonder: The Temple of Artemis
Ephesus’ Temple of Artemis was once listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World before facing a series of tragedies that reduced it to a single column and the remnants of its foundations. Built in the 6th century BCE, the Temple of Artemis was a sight to behold in its time. Double the size of other Greek temples, including the Parthenon, the temple had 127 marble columns and faced the west, much like the other Artemis temples.
The temple was destroyed by a deliberate fire in 4th century BCE and then was rebuilt, surviving until Late Antiquity and the Gothic invasion of c. 267 CE when it was torn down again. The temple was rebuilt once more until it was torn down for the last time by a Christian mob in 401 CE. Because of the fame surrounding the Temple of Artemis, it was the first ancient site that 19th western archaeologists selected for excavation. Though little remains today of the greatest temple of the ancient Mediterranean, the site still holds a great deal of importance in understanding the history of Turkiye.
The House of the Virgin Mary
The House of the Virgin Mary was officially declared a shrine of the Roman Catholic Church in 1896 and has since become a popular place of pilgrimage, with Pope Paul VI visiting the shrine in 1967. Following the Pope's visit, approximately 1.5 million people from different faiths and religions visited this active chapel. Composed entirely of stones, the House of the Virgin Mary is an example of quintessential Roman architecture.
In the 4th century AD, a church was built that combined her house and grave and the home has served as an active chapel for over a century. Only the main room of the house and another off of the altar are open to visitors. Another draw of the shrine is the “water of Mary” located at the exit of the church that is said to have curative properties and can be drunk by all who need healing.
Basilica of St. John
Many believe that the evangelist St. John spent his final years in the area surrounding Ephesus and is buried by Ayosolug Hill. A small chapel was initially built over the gravesite in the 4th century—three hundred years after his death. During the reign of Emperor Justinian, the chapel was rebuilt into a gorgeous basilica in the shape of a cross covered with six domes.
Interestingly, the basilica’s construction of stone and brick is rarely found among the architecture of the period. Inside, colorful mosaics and marble plates line the walls of the church. Even large domes located over the central crossing, choir, transepts and the nave were covered in mosaic tiles. The tomb of St. John lies beneath the central dome and though the church is no longer in its initial form due to age, the impressive ruins of the basilica are still visible.
