History of Ephesus
Modern day Ephesus
Ephesus, back in its glory days, was one of the greatest sea ports of its time. Located at the mouth of the Cayster River, now filled in by sediments, near the Aegean Sea in modern day Turkey, Ephesus was in an ideal location for trade routes making it a very rich culture. To some, it may come as a surprise that Ephesus is a not only rich in Greek/Roman culture, but it also is a very prominent city in biblical culture, second from Jerusalem. Ephesus attracted many Christian Apostles such as John, Paul and Timothy due to its location.
The Origins of Ephesus can be pointed back to around 6000 BCE, but it was thought to be "founded" in the 10th Century BC by an Athenian Prince, Androklos. Rule of Ephesus flip flopped from Greek rule, to Persian, to Egyptian, then Roman. First, Ephesus was a Greek city, part of the Ionian League
(the confederation of 12 Greek cities, united by Androklos), then after a few battles with the Persians, Alexander the Great conquered the area, and after his death, it was given to a king of Pergamon who left it to Roman rule. Ephesus is considered the Roman Empire's largest metropolis, second to Rome, in ancient times of course. Because of this Greco/Roman rule, many Greek and Roman styles of art/architecture are both reflected in the ruins found in Ephesus.
The Origins of Ephesus can be pointed back to around 6000 BCE, but it was thought to be "founded" in the 10th Century BC by an Athenian Prince, Androklos. Rule of Ephesus flip flopped from Greek rule, to Persian, to Egyptian, then Roman. First, Ephesus was a Greek city, part of the Ionian League
(the confederation of 12 Greek cities, united by Androklos), then after a few battles with the Persians, Alexander the Great conquered the area, and after his death, it was given to a king of Pergamon who left it to Roman rule. Ephesus is considered the Roman Empire's largest metropolis, second to Rome, in ancient times of course. Because of this Greco/Roman rule, many Greek and Roman styles of art/architecture are both reflected in the ruins found in Ephesus.