The remains of the ancient town can be visited
Ancient BuildingSelçuk
Ancient City Ephesos-Theatre
The theater of the ancient city of Ephesus, located in modern-day Turkey near Selçuk in the İzmir province, is an impressive testament to Roman architecture. As part of one of the oldest and most significant Greek cities in Asia Minor, it once served as a central gathering place and stage for cultural performances. The ruins of this once-flourishing metropolis, which was originally situated directly on the sea, are now found several kilometers inland, a result of sedimentation and geological changes.
History+
The origins of Ephesus date back to the Late Chalcolithic period around 5000 BC. In the 2nd millennium BC, the settlement of Apaša, likely identical with Ephesus, was an important center of the Hittite and Mycenaean cultures and possibly the capital of the Arzawa kingdom. From the 10th century BC, Ionian Greeks settled there. Following attacks by the Cimmerians in the 7th century BC and conquest by the Lydian king Croesus in 560 BC, a synoecism occurred. The city was successively under Persian, Athenian, Spartan, and again Persian control. After the destruction of the Temple of Artemis in 356 BC, it was rebuilt. In 296 BC, Ephesus was relocated to its current site by Lysimachus and developed into a significant port city. From 133 BC, Ephesus became part of the Roman Empire and grew into one of the largest and most important cities of the Roman Imperial era, featuring numerous public buildings. A severe earthquake in 262 AD and Gothic looting followed, but the city recovered. In the 7th century AD, the ancient phase ended due to Sasanian and Arab invasions and the silting up of the harbor. In 1090, the Seljuks conquered Ephesus, which later fell to the Aydın Emirate and finally to the Ottomans.
Location+
The ancient city of Ephesus-Theater is located near Selçuk in the İzmir district, in the Aegean region of Turkey. The remains are situated at an elevation of approximately 15 meters above sea level.
On site+
The impressive remains of the ancient city of Ephesus, including the theater, are now an important archaeological site and are accessible to visitors. They offer deep insights into the history and architecture of one of antiquity's most significant metropolises.
Nearby+
- Ancient City of Ephesus-Celsus Library (Ancient Buildings), approx. 0.2 km away
- Ancient City of Magnesia on the Maeander-Gymnasium (Ancient Buildings), approx. 18.5 km away
- Ancient City of Magnesia on the Maeander-Stadium (Ancient Buildings), approx. 18.6 km away
- Ancient City of Magnesia on the Maeander (Ancient Buildings), approx. 18.9 km away
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Source: Wikipedia · Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 · Image: Daniel Pelletier
This description draws on the facts documented in the linked Wikipedia article; Wikipedia content is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wording and editing: Mobile History.
Location: 37.9410, 27.3424