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Last week was my birthday, yey…
I mostly prefer to be low key for my birthdays don’t like to make such a big deal about it.
However we should find reasons to celebrate life itself, so I guess birthdays are good opportunities for that, so Let’s celebrate it, but low key hahaha.
I mostly prefer to be low key for my birthdays don’t like to make such a big deal about it.
However we should find reasons to celebrate life itself, so I guess birthdays are good opportunities for that, so Let’s celebrate it, but low key hahaha.
So my dear wife made an amazing blueberry vegan birthday cake, gluten-free, processed sugar-free. Looking fantastic, tasting amazing…
I had my presents from her… Of course the presents were to help me organize my desk better...I love it when she thinks of me so precisely. It was a triplet of Boxes made out of recycled cork.
I had my presents from her… Of course the presents were to help me organize my desk better...I love it when she thinks of me so precisely. It was a triplet of Boxes made out of recycled cork.
Me with my guitar, my birthday cake
Here comes the first question: Were there any boxes found in Ephesus Ancient City?
Of course there were several finds but the most fascinating one was the Ivory Box with 2D reliefs on it depicting a preparation of War and the War itself.
This ivory box dated back to 2nd century AD, to Roman Emperor Trajan’s period. During our private ephesus tours, visitors can see this amazing piece only if they choose to visit Ephesus Archaeology Museum in Selcuk.
Of course there were several finds but the most fascinating one was the Ivory Box with 2D reliefs on it depicting a preparation of War and the War itself.
This ivory box dated back to 2nd century AD, to Roman Emperor Trajan’s period. During our private ephesus tours, visitors can see this amazing piece only if they choose to visit Ephesus Archaeology Museum in Selcuk.
While we were doing this whole birthday thing, I couldn’t stop myself from thinking of the importance of the Birthdays of the important people in the Antiquity.
What would the Birthdays of Roman Emperors mean?
What would Christmas, Jesus’ birthday mean?
Are there any birthday related finds in the Ancient City of Ephesus or it’s vicinity?
What would the Birthdays of Roman Emperors mean?
What would Christmas, Jesus’ birthday mean?
Are there any birthday related finds in the Ancient City of Ephesus or it’s vicinity?
Because on my ephesus tours, when I walk towards the Domitian Square where Roman Emperor Domitian’s Temple is located, I often start talking about the Roman Imperial cult. And how people of Ephesus used these Imperial Temple’s and Avenues for celebrations.
Domitian Avenue Ephesus Ancient City, Turkey
Much of these celebrations were on certain days such as birthdays of the Emperors and the Imperial family members. And according to a Roman Imperial Calendar found in Algeria's Theveste Ancient City there were 64 days of Holidays just for the Imperial Cult inscribed on Arch of Caracalla.
Photo Source: Wiki Commons
Photo Source: Wiki Commons
Some of the sources of Ancient Roman Calendars are
Fasti Amiternini from 20 AD. This calendar is known as the oldest source of Roman Calendars.
Fasti Polemi Silvi Polemius - Silvius is from 354 AD - 449 AD
Fasti Ostiensis which was found in Ostia Antica and also known as Fasti Consulares
and another one is Fasti Capitolini
Fasti Amiternini from 20 AD. This calendar is known as the oldest source of Roman Calendars.
Fasti Polemi Silvi Polemius - Silvius is from 354 AD - 449 AD
Fasti Ostiensis which was found in Ostia Antica and also known as Fasti Consulares
and another one is Fasti Capitolini
Roman Celandar 'Fasti Amiternini'
Agrippina, who is Roman Emperor Nero's mother, is known as the only woman in Roman History whose birthday is celebrated.
She was the mother of Emperor Nero.
And Apparently myself and Roman Emperor Nero share the same date of birth.
Nero was born in year 37 AD and became an Emperor in 54 AD at the age of 17 as the successor of Cladius.
Photo Source: Wiki Commons
She was the mother of Emperor Nero.
And Apparently myself and Roman Emperor Nero share the same date of birth.
Nero was born in year 37 AD and became an Emperor in 54 AD at the age of 17 as the successor of Cladius.
Photo Source: Wiki Commons
Nero is known as the Emperor who fiddled while Rome burned. His reign mostly known with his cruelty and tyranny especially having his own mother executed. In year 64 there was the Great fire of Rome and he died result of a suicide assisted by his secretary in 68 AD which ended the Julio-Claudian dynasty.
Do we have anything in Ephesus related with Emperor Nero? or Do we see anything while touring Ephesus Ancient City?
There is the So Called Stoa of Nero at Ephesus, the marble paved alley that runs from the Library of Celsus to the Theater has a colonnade that formed a sheltered awning for the shops.
There is the So Called Stoa of Nero at Ephesus, the marble paved alley that runs from the Library of Celsus to the Theater has a colonnade that formed a sheltered awning for the shops.
And the birthdays of the Emperors started designating the Beginning of the Year as a tradition.
Especially with Emperor Octavian Augustus’ birthday was set as the start of the new year.
There was an imperial decree sent to every Roman city, and one of the copy of this decree was found in Priene Ancient City 50 kms. to Ephesus.
This must be the core idea behind Celebrating Jesus’ birthday close to the start of the New Year. Otherwise was Jesus really born in December 25?
Especially with Emperor Octavian Augustus’ birthday was set as the start of the new year.
There was an imperial decree sent to every Roman city, and one of the copy of this decree was found in Priene Ancient City 50 kms. to Ephesus.
This must be the core idea behind Celebrating Jesus’ birthday close to the start of the New Year. Otherwise was Jesus really born in December 25?
A sacred stoa was located on the north side of Priene’s Agora. In one of the chambers, a sanctuary to Rome and Augustus was housed. In this chamber two tablets dating to the year 9 BC were found containing an inscription dubbed ‘the Emperor’s Gospel’. One tablet records a recommendation made by the Roman proconsul Paulus Fabius Maximus to the assembly of Asia that the provincial calendar should be reorganized to begin the NEW YEAR on SEPTEMBER 23, the birthday of Augustus. The second tablet records the enthusiastic response of the assembly affirming Fabius’ proposal:
‘Since Providance, which has ordered all things and is deeply interested in our life, has set in most perfect order by giving us AUGUSTUS, whom she filled weith virtue that he might benefit humankind, sending him as a SAVIOR (soter), both for us and for our descendants, that he might end was and arrange all things, and since he, CAESAR, by his appearance (epiphanein; “epiphany”) [excelled even our anticipations], surpassing all previous benefactors, and not even leaving posterity any hope of surpassing what he has done, and since the BIRTHDAY of the GOD AUGUSTUS was the beginning of the GOOD NEWS (euangelion; “gospel”) for the wold that came by reason of him.
This letter/decree has several verbal parallels with how Christ is presented in the New Testament. It calls the birth of Caesar Augustus the “beginning” of breath and life (Revelation 3:14) The “honor” of Augustus should remain forever (Revelation 4:9, 5:13, 7:12). In the decree the birthday of the god Augustus is declared to be the “beginning of the good news” for the world. (Mark 1:1, Revelation 14:6)
When I visited the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, In the hall where they exhibit the Gate of Miletus, right across the Gate they had the original inscription of this decree on a marble block from Pergamon’s Trajan Temple.
This block was found in 5 pieces in Pergamon Acropolis, it was probably part of the base of a statue and dates from around the beginning of the Common Era. Reconstructed Greek Inscription reads : To the Emperor CAESAR, Son of God, Sacred God, Custodian of all the Earth and the Sea. God’s Son first refer to the First Roman Emperor Augustus, the formulation: “Custodian of All the Earth and the Sea” indicated Augustus’ entitlement the World domination. So far therefore there seems to be nothing unusual about the inscription plate.
On closer observation however a Cross can be made out carved between the lines, it’s found exactly below the words “God’s Son” suggesting that this term has now been given a Christian meaning. No longer is Augustus the one being referred to but Jesus.
Pergamon Museum in Berlin finds from Bergama Turkey
Copies found in Priene, Apamea, Dorylaeum, Eumenea, and Maonia show that this “gospel” of the emperor was distributed widely throughout the province of Asia.
Wow it has been quite a story with so much information, I almost have no space left to tell you how I spent my birthday! It seems like a better idea to spare that part for my next blog story. There will be some beautiful pictures, and of course I will find a way to connect my story to the Antiquity and also to Ephesus.
So please stay tuned. I hope you enjoy reading my story and information. Please comment or ask any questions so we can develop more stories and information through your contribution.
So please stay tuned. I hope you enjoy reading my story and information. Please comment or ask any questions so we can develop more stories and information through your contribution.
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