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

The history of Ephesus is very long and convoluted.  It was founded on the shores of a bay into which the River Cayster drains and on the ancient hillside of Mount Pion in c 6,000 BC. Alexander the Great conquered the city in 334 BC, which led to a 50-year period of prosperity for the Ephesians.

After the death of Alexander the Great, the city was ruled by Lysimachus  - one of Alexander’s Generals. He moved the city between 286 and 281 BC to the valley between Mount Koressos and Mount Pion i.e. back up the valley from the sea. Ephesus became one of the most important cities in Roman Empire in Anatolia (This area of Turkey) around 14 AD.

At this time Christianity was spreading rapidly and in 57 AD the Roman population rioted against the new religion taught by St Paul in the Agora and Theatre.

By the beginning of the Middle Ages the port of Ephesus had silted up and the city was lost as a centre of international trade.

This really is a ‘potted history’ but the book I bought whilst great on the architecture s a bit thin on why Ephesus became an important seaport in the first place.  I will have to do some more research when I get home.

The photo is of the Library of Celsus – a photo attached because it is likely to be the one you are most familiar with and set the context for the postings that follow.