Ephesus is located near the western shores of modern-day Turkey, where the Aegean Sea meets the former estuary of the River Kaystros, about 80 kilometers south of Izmir, Turkey.
According to legend, the Ionian prince Androclos founded Ephesus in the eleventh century B.C. The legend says that as Androclos searched for a new Greek settlement, he turned to the Delphi oracles for guidance. The oracles told him a boar and a fish would show him the new location.
One day, as Androclos was frying fish over an open fire, a fish flopped out of the frying pan and landed in the nearby bushes. A spark ignited the bushes and a wild boar ran out. Recalling the oracles’ wisdom, Androclos built his new settlement where the bushes stood and called it Ephesus.
Another legend says Ephesus was founded by the Amazons, a tribe of female warriors, and that the city was named after their queen, Ephesia.
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Trajan's Nymphaeum in Ephesus
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Basilica of Saint John and Ayasuluk Fortress
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Library of Celsus in Ephesus
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House of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus
Ephesus has had a long tradition of being a centre of religious pilgrimage.
Terrace Houses in Ephesus
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Arcadiane (Harbour) Street in Ephesus
Arcadiane Street is well preserved and extends for a distance of more than 500 meters,
Ephesus Museum in Selcuk
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Temple of Hadrian in Ephesus
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Ephesus On Silk Roads
The heart of the business district of ancient Ephesus was the market square, which acted as a hub fo...
Isa Bey Mosque in Selcuk
Isa Bey Mosque is located at the southwestern foot of Ayasuluk Hill in Selçuk, between the ancient A...
Hydreion and Memmius Monument in Ephesus
The remains of the impressive fountain known as the Hydreion occupy a space near the intersection of...
Christianity in Ephesus
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is thought to have spent her last years in Ephesus with Saint John. Her h...
Great Theatre in Ephesus
The great theater of Ephesus is a splendidly preserved and very impressive building
Domitian Square in Ephesus
Domitian Square is dominated by the Temple of the Imperial Cult and its artificial terrace.
Magnesian Gate Area in Ephesus
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Stadium in Ephesus
The stadium of Ephesus is located just to the south of the Vedius Gymnasium, in a depression near th...
Grotto of The Seven Sleepers in Ephesus
The legend tells the story of seven young men who were accused of belonging to the Christian communi...
Temple of Artemis
The Lydian King Croesus, who ruled from 560 B.C. to 547 B.C., was most famous for funding the rebuil...
Gate of Mazaeus and Mithridates in Ephesus
The Commercial Agora had three main gates, enabling access from the north onto Harbour Street, the s...
Where Is Ephesus?
Ephesus is located near the western shores of modern-day Turkey, where the Aegean
Ephesus - UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Located within what was once the estuary of the River Kaystros, Ephesus comprises successive Helleni...
Public Buildings And Agora in Ephesus
A narrow street, known as Kathodos (The Way Downwards) in the ancient times, led from the Domitian S...
Scholastica Baths in Ephesus
The baths are separated from the latrines and the residential houses by a narrow lane called Academy...