Selcuk and Ephesus

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Ephesus, the best preserved classical city in the Eastern Mediterranean. 3rd Century BC to to 4th Century AD give or take. Starte in the SE corner with the Basilica and Odeon, then a loop around the fountain of Pollio and Waterhouses. Curetes Way was once lined with shops and inns. The Terraced Houses were amazing to see, a look into the lifestyles of the elite in Roman and Byzantine times. Was an extra charge for admission, but very worth the extra money. The Temple of Hadrian, constructed 118 AD, depicts an interesting frieze of Medusa.

And of course, the Library of Celsus. The library which had been built in the name of proconsul Gaius Celsus completed in the year 135 A.D. by his son Tiberius Giulius Aquila, is entered by way of a stairway, 21 meters (69 feet) in width and having 9 steps.
It was the third richest library in ancient times after the Alexandra and Pergamum.

Continuing on the Sacred Way, led to the Theatre, a mere 24 000 seat theatre, used for everything from theatrical productions to Gladiator battles over the centuries.

The Temple of Artemis, which had been built at first during the Archaic period (8th c. B.C.), was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. In 356 B.C., at the night when Alexander the Great was born, the temple was destroyed by a lunatic called Herostatus who always wanted to be remembered in the future. It had 127 ionic style columns, each 17.5 meters tall, and its dimensions were 55 x 115 meters (180 x 377 feet)!! Now just a lone pillar stands. And a bird has made it his home!

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Photos

Photo 3
Joanna along the Roman Basilica

Photo 5
Theatre

Photo 10
Library of Celsus in the distance

Photo 11
Fountain of Pollio

Photo 13
Curetes Street

Photo 35
Fountain of Trajan

Photo 16
Temple of Hadrian, constructed in 118 AD

Photo 17
Slope housing water pipes

Photo 18
slope housing mosaic

Photo 19
mosaic

Photo 20
dwellings of the slope houses, a look into the lifestyles of the elite in Roman and Byzantine times