Monday 18th March 2013 +2.0hrs GMT: Kusadasi, Turkey ­ The Ancient City of Ephesus ­ The Gate of Mazaeus and Mitradates

First constructed as a triumphal arch this structure, which is adjacent to the Library of Celsus, was converted to be the entrance gate to the Agora (A public space used for markets and meetings).  Mazaeus and Mitradates were slaves of Emperor Augustus whom he set free and sent to Ephesus as officers in charge of maintaining the properties belonging to the Roman Empire. They constructed this monumental gate in appreciation of their former owner.

The walls of the gate would have been full of public notices such as grain price announcements, public meetings and the like.

There is not enough of the Agora left intact to give you an idea of its shape from a photo but it is famous as the spot where St Paul preached the Gospel of Jesus.  He stayed in Ephesus for some time but had a hard time converting the locals to Christianity.  He criticised and condemned the local artisan for producing miniature statues of Gods, a trade form which they made a tidy living.  In revenge the traders stirred up a riot when St Paul was preaching and he was forced to leave Ephesus for good.