Day tours Ephesus – Greek Anthology
Day tours Ephesus – “The empress of Ionia, renowned Ephesus, famous for war and learning.”
Ephesus (Ancient Greek Eφεσος, Ephesos) was an ancient city founded by Ionian Greeks who arrived around 1000 BC on the part of the west coast of Anatolia which became known as Ionia. The city grew into an important commercial port; a religious centre for the cult of Artemis, and one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League.
The area has been inhabited since the Neolithic Age (about 6200 BC); and archaeological finds at the Ayasuluk Citadel reveal that it was already settled during the Bronze Age (e.g. during the Mycenaean era, 1500-1400 BC) long before the Ionians arrived here.
According to legend the Greek founder of Ephesus was Androklos (Ἄνδροκλος), son of Kodros (Κόδρος), a legendary king of Athens. He was said to have driven out the native Carians and Lelegians (probably Lydians).
Day tours Ephesus – Temple of Artemis
Day tours Ephesus – The city was famed for the Temple of Artemis; one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The prehistoric sanctuary of the Anatolian mother goddess Kybele (Κυβέλη) was transformed by the Greeks into a place of worship for Artemis; and they built ever larger temples for her.
The first great temple was completed in 550 BC; and the second even more magnificent temple was finished in the early 3rd century BC. Destroyed and rebuilt several times, its final destruction is alleged to have been by a Christian mob incited by Saint John Chrysostom in 401 AD.
