Page 92 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL MAGAZINE FALL 2023 DISCOVERING TURKEY

The Ephesus Temple of Artemis, built in
the 6th century BC, was one of the Seven
Wonders of the Ancient World, known for its
massive size and the magnificent works of art
that adorned it. Invading Goths destroyed
the temple in 262 BC and not much of it re-
mains in Ephesus today.
A tour guide here is a must. Otherwise,
you’ll miss the rich history and points of in-
terest throughout the sprawling ruins. We
found each tour guide has his or her own em-
phasis and stories to share. It’s another rea-
son to return to Ephesus whenever you can.
As our tour group moved deeper into the
city, we passed well-preserved local neigh-
borhoods and shops including brothels and
baths, dating to the early Byzantine Period. A
highlight was a talk by an on-site archaeolo-
gist during our visit to the Terrace Houses, a
relatively recent and still active excavation
area opposite Hadrian's Temple. Just a frac-
tion of the hillside enclave has been uncov-
ered.
Ephesus’ wealthy movers and shakers lived
in these multi story homes with views, run-
ning water, and toilets that drained into sew-
ers. The remains of the houses still show off
beautiful mosaics and frescoes. By the end of
the Terrace House tour, we had a new appre-
ciation of ancient upscale lifestyles over
2,000 years ago.
At the heart of the city stands the Library
of Celsus - still beautiful and probably the
most photographed building in the complex.
Completed in 117 A.D, the library housed
more than 12,000 scrolls, and was one of the
most impressive and important buildings in
the Roman Empire.
Our tour ended at The Great Theater of
Ephesus, a monumental structure that could
hold 25,000 spectators. One of the largest
and most impressive amphitheaters in the
ancient world, and a masterpiece of ancient
engineering, it’s a semicircular auditorium
with tiered seating and a commanding stage
cut into the slope of Panayir Mountain. En-
tertainment as well as political, social and
religious events packed the stands.

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