History of Ephesus

The ancient city of Ephesus (Turkish: Efes), located near the Aegean Sea in modern day Turkey, was one of the great cities of the Greeks in Asia Minor.

Ephesus was inhabited since the time of the Mycenaeans, if not before. During the Roman Republic, Ephesus was the capital of proconsular Asia, which covered the western part of Asia Minor. The city bore the title of "the first and greatest metropolis of Asia."

In Greek and Roman times, Ephesus was the center of worship of Diana (or Artemis), goddess of the hunt. The city's religious life centered on the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In addition to Diana, it is estimated that as many as 17 gods and goddess were worshipped in Ephesus at one time. The Temple of Artemis was badly damaged by a Goth invasion in 262 AD. It was rebuilt, but not to its former splendor.

The population of Ephesus has been estimated to be in the range of 400,000 to 500,000 inhabitants in the year 100 AD. In addition to the great Temple of Artemis, Ephesus boasted a civic library and a theater, which was the largest in the world, capable of holding 50,000 spectators. Also built in Ephesus around this time were the Roman Baths, including what is believed to be the first instance of indoor plumbed toilets (flushed by running water beneath the latrines).

By the later first century AD, Ephesus had become an important center for early Christianity. The Apostle Paul spent his longest missionary tour in Ephesus (Acts 18-20). According to Acts, Paul's preaching drew the wrath of the artisans of Ephesus, whose livelihood depended on the Temple of Artemis (Acts 19:23-41). The riot occurred in the Great Theater, which still stands. Paul wrote 1 Corinthians from Ephesus, and the book of Ephesians was later addressed to the Christian community at Ephesus. In the book of Revelation, Ephesus was one of the seven churches addressed by Christ in a vision (2:1-7).

Ephesus continued to play an important role in Christian history after the time of the apostles. From an early date, St. John was said to have lived and died in Ephesus and pilgrims visited his tomb. Various traditions identified this John as: the Apostle; the Evangelist who wrote the Fourth Gospel; or the prophet who wrote Revelation. Soon, however, these were assumed to be one and the same. In the 6th century, Emperor Justinian built a great basilica over John's tomb, remains of which can be seen today.

Ignatius of Antioch wrote a letter written by to the Ephesians in the early 2nd century AD, John Chrysostom visited in the city in 401, and Ephesus was the setting for the Third Ecumenical Council (431), which resulted in the condemnation of Nestorius and the official approval of the term "Mother of God" (Theotokos) for the Virgin Mary. The council took place in the Double Church of the Virgin, which was probably built shortly before the bishops arrived.

According to a later legend, the Virgin Mary had joined the Apostle John in Ephesus. A house about 7 km from Seljuk, just outside Ephesus, is believed by many Catholics and Muslims to have been the last home of the Virgin Mary. The current structure, known as the House of the Virgin, dates to the 7th century and is believed to be built on the site of her house. It became an official place of Catholic pilgrimage in 1892 and has been visited by the Pope.

By the early Middle Ages, the port of Ephesus had silted up and the city had gone into decline. The remains of the Temple of Artemis sunk into the marsh and disappeared completely from sight. Much of the city was abandoned after the Arab raids of the 7th century, and Ephesus was just a small town when the Seljuks conquered it in 1069.

Excavations of Ephesus began in the late 1800s and continue today.

Sources

Norbert C. Brockman, Encyclopedia of Sacred Places (1997), pp. 74-76
Helmut Koester, ed., Ephesos: Metropolis of Asia.
Clive Foss, Ephesus after Antiquity.

Ephesus Panoramic Virtual Tour – Sail Turkey
Ephesus – Ephesus Guide
Ephesus.us - Guide to structures with photos and interactive panorama
Ephesus – Kusadasi.com (includes site plan and photos)
Ephesus - Turkish Odyssey
Ephesus – Catholic Encyclopedia
Pictures from Ephesus – Roger L. Robison (virtual tour with site plan and photos)
In the Footsteps of St. Paul: Ephesus – BBC Religion & Ethics Feature, 2002
Paul the Apostle: The Man who Turned the World Upside Down (History Channel DVD, narrated by Martin Sheen, features newly discovered cave mural)
Ronald Brownrigg, Pauline Places (London, 1989).
Steven Friesen, "Ephesus - Key to the Vision in Revelation," Biblical Archaeology Review 19:3, 24-37 (May-June 1993).
Sharon Gritz, Paul, Women Teachers, and the Mother Goddess at Ephesus (University Press of America, 1991).

Photos: khoogheem at Flickr, used under Creative Commons.