Discovering the Wonders of Ephesus – A Journey Through an Ancient City
How can you not be intrigued by a city built in the Bronze Age and famous since the Greek era? Called an Ionian Greek city, Ephesus was believed to have been built by the Amazon tribes, which were female warriors.
If you plan to visit Turkey, you should have Ephesus—the ancient city—on your bucket list due to its great significance to the historical places. Ephesus has acted as a crossroads where East and West met for centuries. Plan your trip to Ephesus by booking tickets in advance with any Turkish Airlines UAE flights from Dubai, Sharjah, or Abu Dhabi to Istanbul.
From Istanbul, there are flights to Izmir, which take about 40 minutes by road. Turkish Airlines offers a great flight experience with comfortable seats, delicious food, and fascinating inflight entertainment.
About Ephesus
Although Ephesus has existed as a city since the Neolithic era, it achieved its greatest eminence during the Roman Empire when it served as Asia Minor’s capital. Ephesus expanded and thrived, becoming the second-most significant city in the Roman Empire.
The legendary Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, was one of the largest temples the ancient Greeks built, giving the city its prominence. With only one column and foundations, the temple now stands as a reminder of an extremely imposing and enormous construction earlier. Ephesus underwent ups and downs in its fortunes before becoming a Roman city in 133 BC.
The awe-inspiring architecture of the city’s statues, towers, ancient Greek inscriptions, and colonnades make the ancient Ephesus a place of grandeur and the second most important city to visit after Rome. Some of the wonders in the ancient city you can never miss visiting are:
- Library of Celsus
One of the most remarkable structures in the Roman Empire was the Library of Celsus, which stored more than 12,000 scriptures and writings. It was located in ancient Ephesus, which is now western Turkey. The Library of Celsus was built in the second century CE and was named after Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus, the former governor of Rome.
Today, all left of this once-impressive structure is the library’s striking facade, which stands as a mute testament to the city’s prominence as an important hub for learning about the Roman era.
Besides the parchment scrolls, Celsus’ tomb is on the library’s first floor in the west wing. With two walls separated by one meter, the prime reading area looks impressive, with cabinets and shelves to preserve the books from damage. You can visit the place between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. any day except during local holidays.
- Temple of Hadrian
The Temple of Hadrian, located on Curetes Street, is regarded as one of the most stunning and well-preserved buildings. Built to commemorate Hadrian’s visit from Athens to the city, P. Quintilius built it at the beginning of the second century AD. Hadrian was one of the five good emperors.
The temple’s front portion is one of the most exquisite structures in the city. Four Corinthian columns support a curving arch on the facade. The goddess of victory is in the center of the arch. Copper statues of the former emperors Maximian, Diocletian, Galerius, and Constantius I were also in the temple.
Theodosius rebuilt the temple in the fourth century AD as a tribute to his father. Medusa can be found inside the temple doorway with acanthus leaf decorations. Friezes that depict the city’s history are located at the entrance. They depict the Amazons, Dionysus in a procession, and Androklos hunting a boar. The last frieze depicts Theodosius’ family, represented by Androkles and Herakles, his wife, and the Gods Apollo and Athena.
- The Amphitheatre
The spectacular open-air theater, which can accommodate 25,000 people and has 65 rows, was considered the biggest during the ancient period. In terms of art history, the Ephesus Ancient Theatre is regarded as one of the most significant buildings on the globe. The theatre has been utilized for purposes other than performing art. Gladiator battles have also taken place there in the past.
- The Odeon
One of the exceptional architectural wonders in Ephesus is the Odeon, a tiny roofed theatre that Publius Vedius Antoninus and his wife built in 150 AD. The Odeon had approximately 1,500 seats and presented plays and concerts. The stage stairs are still visible, and the building has red granite pillars showcasing Corinthian art.
- Aqueducts
Ephesus has sophisticated aqueduct networks. At least six aqueducts of varied sizes served a sawmill and several bath complexes.
There are still more things like the Agoras, Hercules Gate, Memmius Monument, etc., to explore. It is time to book your flights on a reliable Turkish Airlines UAE website for a great travel experience to the ancient city of Ephesus.
