Ephesus

Ephesus was a city in ancient Greece on the Ionian shore, 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) southwest of present-day Selçuk in Zmir Province. It is considered one of the most beautiful historical sites in Turkey. It was erected by Attic and Ionian Greek immigrants on the site of the old Arzawan capital in the 10th century BC. It was one of twelve cities that made up the Ionian League during the Classical Greek period. In 129 BC, the Roman Republic took possession of the city.

The neighboring Temple of Artemis (finished approximately 550 BC), which has been named as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, made the city famous in its day. The Library of Celsus and a theatre with a capacity of 24,000 people were among the city's numerous magnificent structures.

Ephesus was also one of the seven churches of Asia mentioned in the Book of Revelation; it is possible that the Gospel of John was written there; and it was the venue of multiple 5th-century Christian Councils (see Council of Ephesus). In 263, the Goths destroyed the city. Although it was reconstructed later, its role as a commercial center waned as the Küçükmenderes River gradually silted up the harbour.

Location: Selçuk, İzmir Province, Turkey