Trading center of ancient world
Once an ancient Roman city of Ephesus, comprises successive Hellenistic and Roman settlements founded on new locations. Those serial sites show the long settlement history of the place, each of them making an important contribution to overall value of Ephesus. It is the home of grand monuments of Library of Celsus and Great Theatre from Roman period, remains of Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the world and also the House of the Virgin Mary. Ephesus is an exceptional testimony to the cultural traditions of Hellenistic, Roman Imperial and early Christian periods.
Ephesus was one of the seven churches of Asia that are cited in the Book of Revelation. The Gospel of John may have been written here. The city was the site of several 5th-century Christian Councils. The city was destroyed by the Goths in 263, and although rebuilt, the city’s importance as a commercial centre declined as the harbour was slowly silted up by the Küçükmenderes River. It was partially destroyed by an earthquake in AD 614.
The ruins of Ephesus are a favourite international and local tourist attraction, partly owing to their easy access from Adnan Menderes Airport or from the cruise ship port of Kuşadası, some 30 km to the South.