Turkey's Forgotten City of Ephesus: Ancient Ruins and Architectural Beauty
Ephesus: The Rome of the Middle East
If ancient cities are of particular interest as a family vacation spot, ancient history enthusiasts will be glad to know that there is a Middle Eastern city not entirely transformed by reconstruction and remodeling. Enough remains of the old city of Ephesus in Turkey that visitors can easily imagine what life would have been like in ancient times. It isn't as popular as Rome so tourists probably won't have to contend with quite so many fellow travelers; this isn't a bad thing, especially if you don't want to rush your sightseeing.
Legends and Lore: The Meryemana and the Grotto of the Seven Sleepers
Ephesus didn't have a good reputation among the moral scholars in the olden days, but those notions have now been replaced by feelings of awe; no matter how its inhabitants acted in the past, one must admire Ephesus for what remains. It is an architectural gem just waiting to be explored. For those interested in religious history, one of the first attractions to see is the Meryemana, the very place where the Virgin Mary was purported to have lived.
Although no one is certain that Meryemana was Mary's actual home, it is a fascinating prospect for Christian pilgrims to consider. The house is short and unassuming; it's quite obvious that it is an ancient building. Inside the house is a beautiful shrine filled with all sorts of eye-pleasing treasures. Ephesus is also of interest to pilgrims because of the trip the Apostle Paul once made to the city and by the place known as the Grotto of the Seven Sleepers. This is an interesting legend that involves miraculous time travel by Christian youths in ancient days.
The Celsus Library
If ancient cities are of particular interest as a family vacation spot, ancient history enthusiasts will be glad to know that there is a Middle Eastern city not entirely transformed by reconstruction and remodeling. Enough remains of the old city of Ephesus in Turkey that visitors can easily imagine what life would have been like in ancient times. It isn't as popular as Rome so tourists probably won't have to contend with quite so many fellow travelers; this isn't a bad thing, especially if you don't want to rush your sightseeing.
Legends and Lore: The Meryemana and the Grotto of the Seven Sleepers
Ephesus didn't have a good reputation among the moral scholars in the olden days, but those notions have now been replaced by feelings of awe; no matter how its inhabitants acted in the past, one must admire Ephesus for what remains. It is an architectural gem just waiting to be explored. For those interested in religious history, one of the first attractions to see is the Meryemana, the very place where the Virgin Mary was purported to have lived.
Although no one is certain that Meryemana was Mary's actual home, it is a fascinating prospect for Christian pilgrims to consider. The house is short and unassuming; it's quite obvious that it is an ancient building. Inside the house is a beautiful shrine filled with all sorts of eye-pleasing treasures. Ephesus is also of interest to pilgrims because of the trip the Apostle Paul once made to the city and by the place known as the Grotto of the Seven Sleepers. This is an interesting legend that involves miraculous time travel by Christian youths in ancient days.
The Celsus Library
- Fountains, a library, religious shrines, and old roads abound in Ephesus
- Ephesus is mentioned in the Bible and was visited by the Apostle Paul
- An important ancient city, it still has enough remaining ruins to show what life was like
Comments
OK looks like I need to add Turkey to my places to visit list.
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