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One of the top interesting spots for visitors of Ephesus that still keeps its mystery is the so called House of Pleasure or the Love House.
One would have hard time not to the realize the promiscuous laughs of the visitors who are on their Private Tour of Ephesus listening the commentaries of their Private Tour Guide for Ephesus about this attraction.
One would have hard time not to the realize the promiscuous laughs of the visitors who are on their Private Tour of Ephesus listening the commentaries of their Private Tour Guide for Ephesus about this attraction.
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Basilica Stoa bordered the north side of the State Agora donated to the city by it's own rich citizen C. Sextilius Pollio and his family, it was built in 11 AD.
During it's day it was considered to be one of the most magnificent buildings in Ephesus.
It was built with 2 storeys and 3 Aisles.
Access to the Basilica was obtained by 4 steps from the Agora Area and 2 entrances on either side of the structure.
12 years after it's completion, the city was hit by an earthquake.
During repairs the number of columns was almost doubled to give the structure more strength.
During it's day it was considered to be one of the most magnificent buildings in Ephesus.
It was built with 2 storeys and 3 Aisles.
Access to the Basilica was obtained by 4 steps from the Agora Area and 2 entrances on either side of the structure.
12 years after it's completion, the city was hit by an earthquake.
During repairs the number of columns was almost doubled to give the structure more strength.
Seated statues of the Imperial Couple, Augustus and his wife Livia that were found here are now on display in the Ephesus Museum.
Other portraits of Royalty could be found in the Basilica Stoa during it's prime, giving it the appearance of an Imperial Gallery.
Other portraits of Royalty could be found in the Basilica Stoa during it's prime, giving it the appearance of an Imperial Gallery.
If you are looking to book a Private Ephesus Tour including The Temple of Artemis You can click here to Contact Us
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Ephesus Archaeological Museum is located in the town of Selcuk only about 2 kms. distance to the Ancient City of Ephesus.
The Museum has a great exhibit of the Finds from the Excavations held in Ephesus for the last 130 years.
A Tour of Ephesus is never complete without seeing the Archaeological Museum of Selcuk.
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Basilica that was built by Byzantine Emperor Justinian for the name of St. John in 6th Century AD is located on Ayasuluk hill.
There was a small Monastery chapel built in the Late 4th century or Early 5th Century AD.
Ayasuluk Hill was one of the former settlements of Ephesus, and it has been inhabited by some of the early Christian communities of Ephesus that must have built this early monastery and the Chapel in the memory of St. John the Evangelist.
There was a small Monastery chapel built in the Late 4th century or Early 5th Century AD.
Ayasuluk Hill was one of the former settlements of Ephesus, and it has been inhabited by some of the early Christian communities of Ephesus that must have built this early monastery and the Chapel in the memory of St. John the Evangelist.
The Large-scale Basilica was built beside this original chapel and used around 6 centuries until it was destroyed by series of earthquakes in the 13th Century.
Cross planed building have entrance at west is 40 X 110 m. sized, and an domed type basilica.
Cross planed building have entrance at west is 40 X 110 m. sized, and an domed type basilica.
In its time it was the 7th largest Cathedral in the World.
If you are looking to book a Private Ephesus Tour including The Temple of Artemis You can click here to Contact Us
The Church was an important Pilgrimage Spot starting from 7th Century AD.
Many European pilgrims paid a visit to Ephesus and Basilica of St. John along their route to Jerusalem.
Many European pilgrims paid a visit to Ephesus and Basilica of St. John along their route to Jerusalem.
The Basilica was built by structural pieces obtained from Ephesus Ancient City and the Temple of Artemis, hence it gives researchers a great source of study.
For instance the Customs' Law of Ephesus inscribed on a 20 feet marble slab was found here in Basilica of St. John used as a building element. Today this Marble Piece is in an exhibit at Ephesus Archaeology Museum.
The remains that are seen today are
For instance the Customs' Law of Ephesus inscribed on a 20 feet marble slab was found here in Basilica of St. John used as a building element. Today this Marble Piece is in an exhibit at Ephesus Archaeology Museum.
The remains that are seen today are
- The Atrium
- the Side-walls along the Nave with some of the pillars
- The Entrance Hallway (Narthex)
- The Bema (Burial Crypt)
- The Altar of the Church
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Home to a number of cultures and different belief systems for thousands of years Ephesus was one of the most important ports of the classical world.
However the steady accumulation overtime of alluvial deposits from the Little Meander (Kucuk Menderes) river, it pushed the boundaries of the city 9 kilometers inland leading to the eventual loss of the city's prominence.
Because of geographical factors and due to strategic requirements the actual site of Ephesus shifted a number of times over the years.
However the steady accumulation overtime of alluvial deposits from the Little Meander (Kucuk Menderes) river, it pushed the boundaries of the city 9 kilometers inland leading to the eventual loss of the city's prominence.
Because of geographical factors and due to strategic requirements the actual site of Ephesus shifted a number of times over the years.
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According to rumour, before the acceptance of Christianity as an official religion, seven young men fled from Ephesus in the 3rd century and took refuge here.
They sealed up the cave and fell asleep, and were woken up 200 years later by an earthquake which broke the seal.
When they awoke and walked into the town, they realised that Ephesus was now an official Christian city.
It was deemed to be a miraculous event, and when the young men died they were buried in the same cave, which is now a Byzantine-era grotto.
The adjacent building is named after them and has a large monument, many rock-engraved tombs, two churches and catacombs.
They sealed up the cave and fell asleep, and were woken up 200 years later by an earthquake which broke the seal.
When they awoke and walked into the town, they realised that Ephesus was now an official Christian city.
It was deemed to be a miraculous event, and when the young men died they were buried in the same cave, which is now a Byzantine-era grotto.
The adjacent building is named after them and has a large monument, many rock-engraved tombs, two churches and catacombs.
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Beyond Ephesus and on Bulbul Dag (mountain), 8km southwest of Selcuk, the monument is believed by some to be where Virgin Mary died, and for some where she lived almost the last decade of her life here at Bulbul Dag which surrounds Ephesus Ancient City with the City Walls built over it.
The Chapel today is visited by Christian and Muslims from all around the world.
The Chapel today is visited by Christian and Muslims from all around the world.
Discovery of the Chapel
The small stone house is now a chapel today, and probably dates back to the 4th century AD, although the foundations are thought to be 1st century.
It was not until a German nun, Catherine Emmerich (1774-1824) claimed that she had visions of Mary living in ‘a small, stone house’ in even though the nun had never left Germany. Anna Catherine Emmerich described the area as she was present here giving the smallest details such as the Pine Forest and the Olive Groves that surround the House.
According to the Nun, the House was overlooking to the Aegean Sea and close tothe Ancient Roman City of Ephesus.
And she mentions about a Spring water source that runs via the Valleys that lead to Ephesus.
After Anna Catherine Emmerich died, it took about 60 year for her visions to be discovered in a book by a Priest around 1890.
In 1891, 3 Priests discovered the exact location as it was mentioned in the Book that covers the Visions of Anna Catherine Emmerich.
According to the Nun, the House was overlooking to the Aegean Sea and close tothe Ancient Roman City of Ephesus.
And she mentions about a Spring water source that runs via the Valleys that lead to Ephesus.
After Anna Catherine Emmerich died, it took about 60 year for her visions to be discovered in a book by a Priest around 1890.
In 1891, 3 Priests discovered the exact location as it was mentioned in the Book that covers the Visions of Anna Catherine Emmerich.
If you are looking to book a Private Ephesus Tour including The House of Virgin Mary You can click here to Contact Us
Biblical Background
In the Gospel of John, The Crucifixion Section has an additional paragraph that Jesus says "Mother, here is your son, behold thy son. And son here's your Mother behold thy mother."
These words were from Jesus to Mother Mary and St. John the Evangelist.
From here we can understand that St. John and Mother Mary were clearly entrusted to each other.
And many scholars agree that St. John spent a remarkable portion of his life in Asia Minor hence nearly %85 of Book of Revelation is written from/to the cities in Asia Minor around Ephesus. There is also a very important Church (one of the largest of all Pilgrimage Churches ) near Ephesus named after St. John.
So if John the Evangelist was around Ephesus before he was exiled to Patmos Island, he must have taken Mother Mary with him during that period.
These words were from Jesus to Mother Mary and St. John the Evangelist.
From here we can understand that St. John and Mother Mary were clearly entrusted to each other.
And many scholars agree that St. John spent a remarkable portion of his life in Asia Minor hence nearly %85 of Book of Revelation is written from/to the cities in Asia Minor around Ephesus. There is also a very important Church (one of the largest of all Pilgrimage Churches ) near Ephesus named after St. John.
So if John the Evangelist was around Ephesus before he was exiled to Patmos Island, he must have taken Mother Mary with him during that period.
Relation in Early Christianity
After Christianity was accepted as the Official Religion in 396 AD by Eastern Roman Empire, a series of Ecumenical Councils were convened to decide the main doctrine that the Empire will follow.
Nicaea Council was the First one and mainly the bishops participated on Nicaea Council tried to find an answer to the Nature of Christ.
The main Question was
"Does Jesus have only Divine character? "
or "Does Jesus have both human and Divine Character?"
The answers were vague but they still stuck to the second idea.
And in the 2nd Council was held in Ephesus in 431.
And the one of the main questions was if Jesus is both Divine and human, then Mother Mary is the Mother to which of them?
Is she the Mother of Christ the Human (Christokos)?
or Is she the Mother of God (Theotokos)?
First time in Christian History Mother Mary was titled as Theotokos, the Divine Motherhood of Mary was officially crowned to her at Ephesus.
This historical fact also relates Mother Mary with Ephesus.
Nicaea Council was the First one and mainly the bishops participated on Nicaea Council tried to find an answer to the Nature of Christ.
The main Question was
"Does Jesus have only Divine character? "
or "Does Jesus have both human and Divine Character?"
The answers were vague but they still stuck to the second idea.
And in the 2nd Council was held in Ephesus in 431.
And the one of the main questions was if Jesus is both Divine and human, then Mother Mary is the Mother to which of them?
Is she the Mother of Christ the Human (Christokos)?
or Is she the Mother of God (Theotokos)?
First time in Christian History Mother Mary was titled as Theotokos, the Divine Motherhood of Mary was officially crowned to her at Ephesus.
This historical fact also relates Mother Mary with Ephesus.
This Ecumenical Council was held at Church of Mary in Ephesus, on our Private Tours of Ephesus our visitors can get a chance to visit this spot if they requested to their Tour Guide for Ephesus beforehand.
You can click here to get more information about this Council Church.
You can click here to get more information about this Council Church.
Papal Visits
After the discovery of the Chapel's foundations in 1891, The Balkan Wars were followed by Worl War I, so nothing much could have been done.
Post World War 2 period, the ruined Chapel was reconstructed in 1959 by the Christian Community in Smyrna (Modern day İzmir).
Around Mid 60s the community decided to issue an official invitation to the Papacy and in 1967 Pope Paul VI paid a visit to the Area, this was followed 12 years later by John Paul II and lastly in 2006 by Pope Benedict.
Post World War 2 period, the ruined Chapel was reconstructed in 1959 by the Christian Community in Smyrna (Modern day İzmir).
Around Mid 60s the community decided to issue an official invitation to the Papacy and in 1967 Pope Paul VI paid a visit to the Area, this was followed 12 years later by John Paul II and lastly in 2006 by Pope Benedict.
The Use of the House Today
Today there is an Outdoor Mass Facility beside the Church and also an Indoor Monastery where 5-6 Nuns and Priests live here year around.
The Feast of Assumption, on August 15 is celebrated here by the Orthodox Greeks, and Mass is held daily.
The church can only be accessed by car, as no public buses come through the dense forest surrounding it.
The Feast of Assumption, on August 15 is celebrated here by the Orthodox Greeks, and Mass is held daily.
The church can only be accessed by car, as no public buses come through the dense forest surrounding it.
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Soon after the entrance to the site are the ruins of Vedius Gymnasium, which was built by a wealthy local businessman in the late 2nd century, in the name of Vedius Antonius.
It is a magnificent structure, built as a venue for sporting and cultural education and contains exercise fields and covered rooms, baths, changing rooms, a courtyard and ceremonial room in the centre.
To the south is the Stadium, where races, games, and Olympic events took place.
It is a magnificent structure, built as a venue for sporting and cultural education and contains exercise fields and covered rooms, baths, changing rooms, a courtyard and ceremonial room in the centre.
To the south is the Stadium, where races, games, and Olympic events took place.
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This Gate which was the south entrance to the mercantile Agora was built by 2 slaves freed by Emperor Augustus in 3 BC.
The inscriptions on top of the Gate, which you can see from in front of Celsus Library indicate Mazaeus and Mithridates the Two freed slaves wished honor the Imperial family by building the structure.
The inscriptions on top of the Gate, which you can see from in front of Celsus Library indicate Mazaeus and Mithridates the Two freed slaves wished honor the Imperial family by building the structure.
Statues of the Emperor and his family would have stood mounted above this inscription.
Also inscribed on the structure are governing the administration of the Agora and a Curse on anyone urinating can be found written on a wall in the right side of the Gate.
the wings of the Gate house were two storied and likely housed the tombs of the two donors.
Also inscribed on the structure are governing the administration of the Agora and a Curse on anyone urinating can be found written on a wall in the right side of the Gate.
the wings of the Gate house were two storied and likely housed the tombs of the two donors.
This Gate provides some nice shady spot for tourist groups visiting Ephesus City in the heat of summer.
So Most of the Private Ephesus Tour Guides give a chance for a picture break for Celsus Library and set the meeting place to this Wonderful Roman Gate. In that sense the Gate is a life saver for many visitors.
So Most of the Private Ephesus Tour Guides give a chance for a picture break for Celsus Library and set the meeting place to this Wonderful Roman Gate. In that sense the Gate is a life saver for many visitors.
If you are looking to book a Private Ephesus Tour including The Gate of Mithridates and Mazeus You can click here
What amazes me most is that there is almost 150 years time difference between the Gate of Mithridates and the Library of Celsus. The two structures are attached to each other they give such an amazing complete image together with no signs of age difference.