Turkey - Ephesus

Click on photo to enlarge it

Based on archaeological evidence, the consensus of historians is that Ephesus, under a series of different names, has existed since about 5,000 BC. After its founding, it was ruled by a series of tyrants. Because of its strategic location, Ephesus prospered and became a leading city in Asia. Under the rule of the Lydian kings, Ephesus became one of the richest cities in the Mediterranean world. The last Lydian King, Croesus, was defeated by the Persians under Cyrus in 547 BC. Ephesus remained under Persian control until Alexander the Great [334 BC].

Alexander showed a great interest in Ephesus, but it was one of his generals, Lysimachus, who helped build up the city. Thanks to his efforts, the city was fortified, a new harbor, theater, stadium, and gymnasium were built, and Ephesus became a leading trade center in Asia. 

When Attalus III, king of Pergamum died in 133 BC, Asia was bequeathed to the Roman Empire. The Romans took advantage of that in 129 BC by imposing heavy taxes. Even though Ephesus was Roman by control, it was Greek in its soul. In 88 BC, the Ephesians, aligning themselves with Mithridates, king of Pontus, massacred Latin speaking inhabitants of their city. The Romans sent an army, under the leadership of Sulla, to quell the rebellion [the first Mithridatic War], and Ephesus came back under Roman rule in 86 BC. 

When Octavian, Caesar Augustus, became the Emperor of Rome in 27 BC, he made Ephesus the capital of Asia, taking that prestigious position away from Pergamum. At that point, Ephesus entered another era of prosperity, and it became second in size and importance only to Rome, according to Strabo, a Greek historian [Strabo, Geography 14.1.24]. 

Ephesus peaked in the year 100 AD with an estimated 400,000 inhabitants, making it the largest city in Roman Asia. In 123 AD, the Library of Celsus [third largest in the ancient world, after Alexandria and Pergamum] was constructed. 

Ephesus was one of the seven churches of Asia, which John wrote about in the book of Revelation. Paul went to Ephesus where he remained for approximately three years.