We will take you to Ephesus, see the ruins of Artemis Temple on the way, after Ephesus, you can choose to visit House of Virgin Mary. Please have a look at our Ephesus Tours web site…

 Ephesus Tours by Van 

Ephesus, once the most important commercial center of the western Anatolia, is one of the highlights of Turkey that awaits the exploring tourists.

The city was established as a port on the mouth of the river Cayster and was one of the foremost cities of the world for its being on a strategic trade route in Anatolia. The city itself and the ruins are all on the sides of a fertile valley.The extensive ruins including the theatre, library or gymnasium create the special atmosphere of Ephesus, and appeal to every visitors.

Ephesus has been a “center” during the date. Once a trade center of the ancient world, a religious center of the early Christianity and today, a unique tourism center proving all its perfectas to the visitors through the world.
History:
There is as yet no definite knowledge about the exact date of the foundation of Ephesus, but famous historians such as Strabon and Pausanias, agreed in the idea of that Ephesus was founded by Amazons, and inhabited by the oldest settlers of Anatolia-Lelegians and Carians, as early as 3000 BC. In the year of 10 BC, Androclos, the son of King of Athens-Kodros, was searching a location for establishing a site. Androclos belonged to Akhas ,was running from the Dor invasion in Greece. He was leading one of the migration convoys. It was predicted by an Apollon oracle that a fish and a boar would show the location of the new settlement.

Days later, parallel to the oracle’s prediction, while frying, a fish fell down from the pan, irritating a hiding boar behind the bushes. The feared boar escaped immediately. Androclos followed the boar and established the city of Ephesus, where he had killed the boar. When Androclos died in the wars with Carians, a mausoleum was built to the memory of the first king of Ephesus. The mausoleum is considered to be placed around “The Door of Magnesia”.

Ephesus was ruled by the Lydian king, Kreisos, in the mid 6BC. The city reached the “Golden Age” and became a good model to the Antic World in culture and art, as well. But the inhabitants of Ephesus moved away. Because they did not like being ruled and lived in the new Ephesus that is located around the area of Temple of Artemis. As the detailed excavations have not completed yet, apart from the Artemision, the remains of that age haven’t been revealed.

Later, Ephesus was dominated by Persians. As Ephesians did not join the “Ionian Rebellion” against Persians, the city was saved from destruction. The rebellion resulted in the loss of Persian. Alexander the Great won Persians and the Ionian cities got their independence in the year of 334. Ephesus was in great prosperity during the times of Alexander the Great Until the arrival of Alexander the Great, Ephesus was consisted of two governing systems, democratic and oligarchic. But the oligarchic system was violated with the coming of a new ruler, and a rebellion existed in Ephesus. The Temple of Artemision was fired and destroyed by the supporters of oligarchy in 356BC.
As the temple became unusable, Alexander the Great proposed for repairing. But the Ephesians delicately refused for the reason that “A God can not built a temple for a God.” An Ephesian architect, Dinocrates restored the Temple of Artemision. After the death of Alexander the Great, Ephesus was ruled by the general of him, Lysimakhos, 287 BC.
Lysimakhos decided to change the prior location of Ephesus to further west, due to the destruction of the port by the alluviums, and the inhabitants were forced to settle in the new place named “Arsinoeina”, the name of Lysimakhos’ wife. The city was surrounded by wide stone walls in 10 meters height and 9 meters length. With the death of Lysimakhos, Ephesians destroyed most of the city walls. And, “Arsinoeina” was changed into “Ephesus” again, to be forgotten eternally.

Ephesus was controlled by the Romans in 190 BC. The city was given to the Bergamian kings for a time. With the death of King Attalos 3 in 133BC, the city was re-ruled by the Romans. Ephesus reached to its height and was notorious for its wealth and luxury between 1-4 AD., especially during the reign of Augustus. During the period, the population of Ephesus increased to 225 000, and the city became the capital of the new Asia. By cleaning the river Caystros from the alluviums, the great trade port of Ephesus, a gateway to foreign countries, enriched the prosperity of the city and continued to thrive with commerce and culture. The city was constructed, adding new models to the former magnificence of Ephesus. “Celcius Library” clearly exemplifies the perfecta of the era, with the delicate details of the construction.

Ephesus has played significant roles during the date, in the early Christianity, as well. The prestige of Ephesus increased with the arrival of Saint Paul, for spreading the Christianity to the Ephesians worshipping to Artemision. St. Paul and the disciplines of Christianity were strictly refused by Ephesians, elderly. With the long tiring struggles of St. Paul, Christianity was accepted by the most of the population around Ephesus. St. Paul had also sent one of his most famous letters to the church in Ephesus. Additionally, St. Jean and Virgin Mary visited Ephesus and Virgin Mary settled down the Mount Bulbul, located close to Ephesus, around the years of 431 AD.
Ephesus became a state of Seljukian in the year of 1090, for a time was held by Byzantine. In 1307 Seljukians controlled the city again. But, years later, the River Caystros was silted up, leaving the site far inland.
Therefore, the city of Ephesus has lost its significance, due to the development of the ports of Izmir and Kusadasi in sea trade. Alexander the Great won Persians and the Ionian cities got their independence in the year of 334. Ephesus was in great prosperity during the times of Alexander the Great Until the arrival of Alexander the Great, Ephesus was consisted of two governing systems, democratic and oligarchic. But the oligarchic system was violated with the coming of a new ruler, and a rebellion existed in Ephesus. The Temple of Artemision was fired and destroyed by the supporters of oligarchy in 356BC. As the temple became unusable, Alexander the Great proposed for
repairing. But the Ephesians delicately refused for the reason that “A God can not built a temple for a God.” An Ephesian architect, Dinocrates restored the Temple of Artemision. After the death of Alexander the Great, Ephesus was ruled by the general of him, Lysimakhos, in 287 BC.
Lysimakhos decided to change the prior location of Ephesus to further west, due to the destruction of the port by the alluviums, and the inhabitants were forced to settle in the new place named “Arsinoeina”, the name of Lysimakhos’ wife. The city was surrounded by wide stone walls in 10 meters height and 9 meters length. With the death of Lysimakhos, Ephesians destroyed most of the city walls. And, “Arsinoeina” was changed into “Ephesus” again. Ephesus was controlled by the Romans in 190 BC. The city was given to the Bergamian kings for a time. With the death of King Attalos 3 in 133BC, the city was re-ruled by the Romans. Ephesus reached to its height and was notorious for its
wealth and luxury between 1-4 AD , especially during the reign of Augustus. During the period, the population of Ephesus increased to 225 000, and the city became the capital of the new Asia.
By cleaning the river Caystros from the alluviums, the great trade port of Ephesus, a gateway to foreign countries, enriched the prosperity of the city and continued to thrive with commerce and culture. The city was constructed, adding new models to the former magnificence of Ephesus. “Celcius Library” clearly exemplifies the perfecta of the era, with the delicate details of the construction.Ephesus has played significant roles during the date, in the early Christianity, as well. The prestige of Ephesus increased with the arrival of Saint Paul, for spreading the Christianity to the Ephesians worshipping to Artemision. St. Paul and the disciplines of Christianity were strictly refused by Ephesians, elderly.

With the long tiring struggles of St. Paul, Christianity was accepted by the most of the population around Ephesus. St. Paul had also sent one of his most famous letters to the church in Ephesus. Additionally, St Jean and Virgin Mary visited Ephesus and Virgin Mary settled down the Mount Bulbul, located close to Ephesus, around the years of 431 AD. Ephesus became a state of Seljukian in the year of 1090, for a time was held by Byzantine. In 1307 Seljukians controlled the city again.However, years later, the River Caystros was silted up, leaving the site far inland. Therefore, the city of Ephesus has lost its significance, due to the development of the ports of Izmir and Kusadasi in
sea-trade.

Located on the top of the “Bulbul” mountain 9 km ahead of Ephesus, the shrine of Virgin Mary enjoys a marvelous atmosphere hidden in the green. It is the place where Mary may have spent her last days. Indeed, she may have come in the area together with St John, who spent several years in the area to spread Christianity. Mary preferred this remote place rather than living in crowded place. The House of Virgin Mary is a typical Roman architectural example, entirely made of stones.

In the 4th century AD, a church, combining her house and grave, has been built. The original two-stored house, which consisted of an anteroom (where today candles are proposed), bedroom and praying room (Christian church area) and a room with fireplace (chapel for Muslims). A front kitchen fell into ruins and has been restored in 1940′s. Today, only the central part and a room on the right of the altar are open to visitors.

From there one can understand that this building looks more like a church than a house. Another interesting place is the “Water of Mary”, a source to be found at the exit of the church area and where a rather salt water, with curative properties, can be drunk by all.

Paul VI was the first pope to visit this place in the 1960′s. Later, in the 1980′s, during his visit, Pope John-Paul II declared the Shrine of Virgin Mary has a pilgrimage place for Christians. It is also visited by Muslims who recognize Mary as the mother of one of their prophets. Every year, on August 15th a ceremony is organized to commemorate Mary’s Assumption. Especially on August 15th, 2000, an organization has planned to celebrate also Jesus’ 2000th birthday.

The visions of Sister Emmerich, as recorded by Brentano, occupy several volumes and are mostly concerned with events from the life of Christ and of Mary. Only a few are devoted to Mary’s final day in Ephesus, and those few follow no logical or even chronological sequence, tending to be circular rather than linear, creating and then clarifying ambiguities, so that in highly condensed version that follows we have taken the liberty of reorganizing and summarizing Sister Emmerich’s visions to help you see more clearly exactly what she saw.

THE LOCATION OF THE HOUSE
“Mary did not live in Ephesus itself, but on a hill to the left of the road from Jerusalem… Narrow paths from Ephesus lead southwards to it… It is a very lonely place, but has many fertile slopes as well as rock caves where several Christian families and friends of Mary already lived… John had a house built for her here…
It is on an uneven plateau near the top of the hill, overgrown with trees and wild bushes… There were Jewish as well as Christian settlers here, living in caves fitted out with woodworks or in huts or tents… It was like a scattered village… Mary’s house was the only one built of stone… A little way behind it was the summit of the hill, from which one could see Ephesus and also the sea with its many islands… Near here is a castle inhabited by a king who seems to have been deposed… Behind the house Mary had built a Way of the Cross soon after her arrival…

It had twelve Stations… Mary paced out the measurements herself… At each Station she set up memorial stones – eight smooth stones with many sides, each resting on a base of the same stone… The stones and their bases were all inscribed with Hebrew letters… These Stations were all in little hollows, except the Station of Month Calvary which was on a hill… The Station of the Holy Sepulcher was in a little cave over this hill…”

THE HOUSE ITSELF
“It was built of regular stones, rounded at the back, and had a spring running under it… The windows were high up near the flat roof… The main part of the house was divided into two by the fireplace in the middle of it, sunk into the ground, facing the door… There was a deep channel in the wall, like half of a chimney, which carried the smoke up an opening in the ceiling… Behind the fireplace, the apse of the room was curtained off and formed Mary’s oratory… In a niche in the center of the wall there was a receptacle like a tabernacle and in it stood a cross about the length of a man’s arm…
To the right and left of the fireplace were doors which led into the black part of the house… The door to the right led to the bedchamber of the Blessed Virgin, which ended in a semi-circle… Her couch, which was placed against a niche in the wall, was the length and breath of a narrow plank… Through the door to the left of the oratory was a small room were Mary’s clothes and other belongings were kept… She lived here quietly with her maidservant, a younger woman who fetched what little food they needed… John would visit them when he was not away on his travels…”

MARY’S DEATH AND BURIAL
“I saw her lying on a low, very narrow couch in her little sleeping alcove… Her head rested on a round cushion… She was very weak and pale. The assembled Apostles held a service in front part of the house… Peter stood in priestly vestments before the altar, with the others behind him as if in a choir…

I saw the Blessed Virgin being lifted up several times a day by the women to be given a spoonful of juice which had been pressed from a bunch of yellow berries… Newcomers tenderly embraced those who were already there… After their feet had been washed, they approached Mary’s couch and greeted her with reverence… She could only say a few words to them… Towards evening she realized that her end was approaching and said farewell to the Apostles, disciples and women who were present… She lay back on her pillows, pale and still… Peter gave her Holy Communion… She died after the ninth hour, at the same time as Our Lord…
Matthew and Andrew then followed Mary’ Way of the Cross until the last Station, half and hour’s journey from the house, which was the cave representing the Holy Sepulcher… Here they worked to enlarge the tomb and to built a door with which to close the entrance… Women came to the house to prepare the body for burial, bringing with them clothes as well as spices to embalm the body… The house was closed and they worked lamplight… Two women washed the holy body… John carried a vessel with ointment…

Peter dipped a finger of his right hand into it and anointed the breast, hands and feet of the Blessed Virgin, praying as he did so… Bunches of myrrh were laid in the armpits and bosom and in the spaces between the shoulders and the neck, chin and cheeks… They wrapped the holy body in a great grave-cloth and placed it in the wicker coffin which stood near…  On her breast was laid a wreath of red, white and sky-blue flowers…

The coffin was then taken to the cave where she was buried.” The date of Mary’s death perhaps fades in importance when Sister Emmerich tells us that after Mary’s entombment St John took St Thomas, who had arrived late, to see the Virgin one last time. Once inside the cave, they knelt and St John opened the lid of the coffin. Mary’s body was not in the burial shroud, but the shroud remained intact. They carefully covered up the entrance to the cave and left.

The temple of Artemision is known as one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. It has been built in the areas of Ephesus on a flat area which has over the centuries turned into a swamp.
Today one can only see the ruins of the foundations of this marvelous construction of the Hellenistic Age, entirely made of marble and full of sculptured columns’ capitals and shafts.

The most beautiful remaining of this temple are today exhibited in the London British Museum. The oldest remaining found date back till the VIth century B.C.
It was surrounded by 36 huge columns, later enlarged upon the orders of the Lydian King, Kreisos, during the VIth century B.C. Most of the exhibits in the London British Museum belong to this period.

The new Artemision has been rebuilt in the second century B.C. Located on top of the previous one, it had tremendous dimensions: 125 columns of each 17,5 meters high.
Unfortunately this one has also been destroyed by fire, reconstructed and again demolished by earthquakes, rebuilt and at last looted by Goths one year later.

The statue of many-breasted Artemision was the symbol of the temple but also of abundance, hunting and wild life.
The genuine statue of Artemision, removed during the fire, is today exhibited in the Selcuk museum. Many copies of this statue found during the latest excavations date from the Roman period.

The burial churches built in a natural cave on the skirt of Mount Pion (PanaYlr), to the north of Ephesus, are known as Seven Sleepers’ Grotto. The legend of Seven Sleepers in the Christian tradition is as follows: Probably in the reign of Emperor Decius (250 – 253), seven young Christian men fled from the forced participation in the pagan cults and hid in a cave. Having slept for 200 years, they woke up in the reign of Theodosius II (408-450). Their names were Maximian, Malchus, Martinian, Dionysius, John, Serapion and Constantine.

Having woken up from their long sleep, these seven young men lived and died as Christians in a Christian Empire. On the order of the emperor the cave where they had fallen asleep was rearranged with a funerary church with catacombs beneath and around and they were buried there when they died. Later when notables and religious leaders also wanted to be buried here, the area was expanded and the number of tombs was increased.

The earliest text of the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus is found in the writings of Syrian authors (5th and 6th c. Monophysites). The heroes became Orthodox martyrs and the legend is known in the Latin church since 6th c. It is mentioned as ‘The Shrine of Seven Sleepers’ in the pilgrimage guide by Theodosius who visited Ephesus in 530 CEo FI. Abradas and Leon, two religious men, built a domed funerary church in the shrine ca. 600.

In the following years all the available room around was used for burials and even rock was hewn for this. The location of Ephesus on pilgrimage routes to the Holy Land helped the cult of Seven Sleepers spread. Pilgrims from close by or far away lands all visited the Seven Sleepers from the beginning of 12th century on.

Daniel, a pilgrim, who visited the site about the beginning of 12th c., writes that there were the tombs of many saints here. Perhaps the name of the mount, IPanaYlr” (fair), comes from the pilgrims visiting the site all along the Middle Ages. In the Koran, verses 8-16 of Sura 18 are about the Seven Sleepers who were a topic in Islamic art as well. There are two more sites in Turkey, that are also called Seven Sleepers’ Grotto (in Tarsus and Kahramanmaras).

The Grotto of Seven Sleepers was excavated by Austrian Archaeological Institute under the supervision of J. Keil and F. Miltner between 19261928. The noteworthy point about the excavations is that whatever was unearthed conformed with whatever was told by the locals. Funerary churches dated to the 4th and 5th centuries do not have a regular plan. The floors have mosaic pavement under which there are catacombs.

The superstructure has entirely collapsed but it is understood that in the middle was a dome surrounded by vaults. Frescoes on the walls and vaults have mainly vegetal decoration. There are graffiti done by pilgrims from the West. Most of these are in Greek and Latin, telling about the Seven Sleepers, and some give the names of the pilgrims. The latest dates of graffiti are between 1397 – 1442.

Consequently, tombs and funerary church for the Seven Sleepers were built here first and then gradually other pious people were buried, forming a holy cemetery. In the excavations more than 2000 oil lamps were recovered, that were left as gifts. Most of the oil lamps have cross motifs as decoration.

It is believed that the evangelist St. John had spent his last years in the region around Ephesus and buried in the southern slope of Ayosolug Hill. Three hundred years after the death of Saint Paul, a small chapel was constructed over the grave in the 4th century. The church was changed into a marvelous basilica during the region of Emperor Justinian ( 527 -565 AD). The monumental basilica was in the shape of a cross and was covered with six domes.

Its construction, being of stone and brick, is an extremely rare find amongst the architecture of its time.
Raised by two steps and covered with marble, the tomb of St John was under the central dome, that was once carried by the four columns at the corners. The columns in the courtyard reveals the monograms of Emperor Justinian and his wife Theodora.

Constructed in the 5th century AD , the baptistery is north of the nave , with its key hole shape. Rampart walls around the church were constructed for protection from the Arabian attracts in the 7th – 8th centuries AD.

The impressive 10th cent. AD frescoes representing St. John, Jesus and a Saint, ornament the chapel.

With the invasion of Turks, the chapel was used as a mosque in the 14th century; unfortunately ‘’Basilica of Saint John ‘’ became unusable due to the serious earthquake in the same century.

The excavations around the Basilica of Saint John has been continuing under the supervision of Ekrem Akurgal since 1973, with the financial supports of George B. Quatman.

As a logical continuation, after Priene and Miletos, one goes to Didyma, a famous temple for its oracles.
This temple dedicated to Apollo was the richest and biggest of the Ionian temples on Anatolian soil. It was to cover such a vast area, that its construction lasted more than 150-200 years and yet it was planned to be without ceiling.

Again after the “Ionian Rebellion”, it was to Alexander the Great to order its restoration. On the ruins of the VIth century BC temple, a church was built during the Byzantine period. Though the ruins one can see today are of pre-Christian age. The temple was famous all over the Greek world for its oracles so that it even surpassed the reputation of Delphi.

The reason for which the harbor of Panamos near Didyma became very busy and was visited by lots of commanders, ordinary and respected people, is that they wanted to learn their future from the priests of the temple. The oracle ceremonies were in two steps : the Pithy would first comment the glitters on the waters of a well and then the priests would translate these into literal and impressive words.

After the Lade War, many of the priests were to escape from the temple or killed by Alexander the Great and the temple of Didyma remained an unimportant temple till the Roman time.