The Turk's Hometown - Castles, Saints, Ancient City

Selcuk is the modern town outside of Ephesus, and is where the Turk is from.
The turk said that as a child, Efes was free for anyone to wander around -which he did. The souvenir shops were set up inside the agora, using the space as it was used in ancient times. But no more - they are outside the gates now.

looking over the agora.

library is always phenomenal

Archaeologists are really puzzle solvers. Focus is currently on the wealthy hilltop homes where debris is being gathered to reconstruct the homes.  Tables and tables of broken marble is being fitted together every day. this is really a giant puzzle room! Then the marble is placed back on the walls with the intent of eventually restoring (?) the rooms

looking down on one of the homes

Looking out over Ephesus

wall frescoes in a home

 

looking down on frescoes in a couple of rooms. The Italian archeologists are working on the frescoes. The austrian archeologists/country built the structure around these hillside homes to protect them from the elements...and people!

always need some animal mosaics to walk on!

This graffiti footprint is from ancient times. One can only imagine the story behind it. But how fun to be able to see it over 2000 years later!

city gate

Bride and Groom at Ephesus

Selcuk is located below the hill that holds the Basilica St. John where the tomb of St. John the apostle is located. If fully standing today, Basilica St. John would be 7th largest church in the world. Built by Constantinople over St. John's tomb. St John was youngest apostle.He died when we was 100 and was put to death twice, but saved by miracles, per the Apostle marketing! He traveled alot, but was based out of Ephesus. where he died. He would write gospels on the mountaintop next to where the bascilica is today. Upon the mountaintop, the Byzantines built the castle/fort.

wall near basilica - shows how ruins were reused through the centuries

model of the basilica

what remains of the basilica - reconstructed from ruins

basilica with castle behind

signs of Christianity on the columns

tomb of St John the apostle

looking down on basilica and hills. Ephesus sits behind the nearest  hill to the right

Inside the castle walls - homes, a church which the Ottomans converted to a sistern, and a mosque

Below -  From inside the castle, looking toward Ephesus. Its behind that low hill just beyond the view of the castle wall. To the right used to be the Aegean Sea - making Ephesus a major port.