Kudadasi and Efes
After leaving Troy, I headed to south west Turkey to the coastal port of Kusadasi, which is a busy modern holiday town. I came here because I want to visit the nearby ruins at Ephesesus.
Ephesesus, or as the Turkish call it - Efes - is beyond your imagination. In ancient times it was a huge city, and located in a valley south of Secuk, it was one of the main cities to visit for commerce and learning. With a lagoon that led to the sea, a 2km road lined with covered walkways, houses and shops led from the harbour and into the main square of the city. From there a main road led uphill north of the city to another gate.
Ephesus became established about 3BC, and besides a huge amphitheatre that could hold about 24 thousand people for music, theatre and Gladiatorial displays, there was also a smaller amphitheatre holding around 2 thousand people which was used for public meetings and also theatre. Nearby there were public baths, latrines and the impressive Library of Celsius, which was a two storey high building with a façade of marble columns, engravings and statues.
In 610 AD there was a colossal earthquake which devastated the whole region and unfortunately led to the demise of this, and many other ancient cities in Turkey. Unbelievably, the site was only discovered in 1961 and although most of it has been opened-up, the archaeologists are still discovering more.
