Discovering the Wonders of Ephesus – A Journey Through an Ancient City
How can you fail to 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 be built by the Amazon tribes, who were female warriors.
If you are planning to visit Turkey, you should have Ephesus – the ancient city on your bucket list due to the great significance it attaches to the historical places. Ephesus has for centuries acted as a crossroad where East and West met. 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 you 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, rising to become the second-most significant city in the Roman Empire.
The legendary Temple of Artemis, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, was one of the largest temples built by the ancient Greeks, who also gave the city its rise to 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, edifices, 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, who was the former governor of Rome.
Today, all that is 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.
Other than the parchment scrolls, you can find Celsus’ tomb located under the first floor of the library in the west wing. With two walls, separated by one metre, the prime reading area looks impressive with cabinets and shelves to preserve the books from any damage. You can visit the place between 8 am and 7 pm on any day, except during local holidays.
- Temple of Hadrian
The Temple of Hadrian, which is located on Curetes Street, is regarded as one of the most stunning and well-preserved buildings. To commemorate Hadrian’s visit from Athens to the city, P. Quintilius built it during the start of the second century AD. Among the five good emperors”, Hadrian was the one.
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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. You can see the goddess of victory in the centre of the arch. There were copper statues in the temple of the former emperors Maximian, Diocletian, Galerius, and Constantius I.
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
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The spectacular open-air amphitheatre, which can accommodate 25,000 people and has 65 rows, is thought to have been the biggest during the ancient period. In terms of art history, the Ephesus Ancient Theatre is regarded as one of the most significant buildings in the entire globe. The theatre has been utilised for purposes other than performances of 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
You find sophisticated aqueduct networks in Ephesus. A sawmill, as well as several bath complexes, were among the parts of the city that were served by at least six aqueducts of varied sizes.
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.