Ephesus

The day started off with a visit to one of the oldest mosques in Turkey, and we met one of the priests who preached there for 25 years, now he sells ceramics outside the mosque!

Outside the Mosque and next to the little ceramics stalls was a very elaborate cafe with low lounging cushions and low tables.  I'm not sure how many people are going to run in for a gozleme with this as its advertisement though.....

Check out the fingers!!!

Today was about 38℃, but when we entered into the old city of Ephesus, which is all marble and closed in walls, it reached about 45℃ - easy! It’s such a shame because there was so much to look at such interesting stories to hear about, but all I could do was seek out shady places to sit and pour water over my head.  There were amazing feats of architecture that were still standing among lots of ruins.

This was a secret symbol that Christians used to use to let each other know that that place was a safe haven.  The city of Ephesus was founded in 10BC and around the time that the Christians were being persecuted. If they saw this symbol they knew they could seek refuge.  

The word “ixoye” is an acronym comprised of the first letter of five Greek words:  Iesous Xristos Theou Yios Sotare which means Jesus, Christ, Son of, God, Savior.

Iesous (Iasoos) is Jesus.  The first letter is ‘iota’, Ιησους.

Xristos (Christos) is Christ.  The first letter is ‘chi’, Χριστóς.

Theou (Theou) is God.  The first letter is ‘theta’, Θεοῦ.

Yios (Huios) is Son.  The first letter is ‘upsilon’, Υἱός.

Sotare (Sotare) is Savior.  The first letter is sigma’, Σωτήρ.

The word is also the Greek word for “fish," icthus, ἰχθύς which when spelled in capital letters in Greek is ΙΧΘΥΣ.  Remember, Jesus called the fishermen to be fishers of men (Matthew 4:19; Mark 1:17).  Jesus used the metaphor to represent evangelism in the proclamation of the gospel by which people are saved from their sins.  Christians began using the fish as a symbol for Christianity in the first century.

Thank you Google!

This funny group of tourists were doing 100 poses in the same place and when I wondered why the photographer couldn't get the snap quickly.......

I turned and looked at the photographer - she had about 15 cameras hanging off her arm - one for each person in the group.

This was the amphitheatre where the council would meet.

This woman is Nike, the Goddess of Strength and Victory.

In fact, you could say the Women’s Movement stated right here in in Ephesus, as they had a female God called Artemis, who was depicted as having many breasts, a sign of fertility.  So women in their society were treated as equals at least, or even worshiped.  Perhaps they forgot along the way as now men and woman in Turkey are far from being equal.  From the clothes they wear to having to pray in a separate woman’s section of the mosque which is fenced off with a lattice barrier.  

Everybody loves Ataturk as he made Turkey a free country in 1923 and made things easier for woman fore example by giving them the freedom to choose if they wanted to wear the Muslim veil or not.  Our tour guide today said she was a little concerned that their current Prime Minister, who has been in power for 3 consecutive 3 year terms was starting to change things - hence the ‘troubles’ over the last few months.  The people say that he has forgotten that the people are free - see, you can’t say you aren’t learning by reading this blog!

And old spa bath..... very relaxing in 45!

The main street of the city - all marbled

The Gates of Hercules, legend has it that if you touch the sides, you will be given strength.

Where's everybody?

Oh..... you guys!

The city is full of stray cats - the poor bastards in the heat!

Can you guess what this was?

The library was built with double marbled walls that had a 2-4cm gap between them to let air flow between them which helped with keeping it cool.  Smart cookies!  Pity we couldn’t work out how to do that today as we walked through the ruins!

Modern Greek Goddesses!

Sun Dial - what time is it?

This woman's daughter in the black kept walking into our photos...... so we just sneaked into hers..... 

Do you think she'll notice?

The market originally had about 150 shops and they had pictures sculpted to tell you what they sell..... this one sells vino - Luwenski's favourite

There was the old amphitheatre where the lions and gladiators fought.  The acoustics are said to be so good there that even the likes of Pavarotti, Julio Igleisius and Elton John had played to packed crowds there.

Ephesus' got talent..... This chap thought he'd give it a red hot go..... and well done to him.