Euphesus, Turkey

Today we visited Turkey in... Asia? ...Europe? Our guide said we were in Eurasia. We LOVED Turkey! Beautiful, clean, organized, friendly people... but it also was... very.... hot.

Today we booked an excursion. We thought this would ensure no more lost time trying to find mass transit, allow us to see the ancient sights, and get to try some Turkish food!


Our guide Oguz (pronounced Oz, like the wizard)

This is the house where it is believed that Mary lived out her final years after Jesus died.

The natural spring said to carry holy water at the sight- people drank from it and filled little bottles to take home.

The wishing wall. You can leave a little message on tissue or paper. Ryan and I left one, maybe you can guess what it was for...

We then bused to the ancient ruins of Euphesus. They are the largest excavation sight after Pompeii in the world (only 13% has been uncovered). It was once a bustling merchant town, eventually ruled by the Romans, until the sea receded the river silted the area and made trade impossible. Then the city fell to ruin and wasn't discovered again until the 50's when some English dudes found some marble in the dirt and began to dig...

our first look

Ferrel cats seem to run the place

ornate 3-D carvings in marble- you made a mistake, you had to start with new marble

The ancient water system

Ryan with Nike- she was the god of Victory. Our guide said that her right breast is exposed, just as the Amazon women- a tribe of huge, strong, fighting women- did as they would cut the right one off (without anesthetic- further proving how tough they were) so that they could be better archers.

The ancient walk through the city

The original marble walkway- it was slippery- that's why they had those little niches carved in them- so the Romans wouldn't slip!

Trajan's fountain

The mosaic floor of the market- those are the shop stalls running along it

The impressive library. This is what the Brit dudes dug up- imagine their surprise!

More with the cats

The amphitheater

Incredibly cheesy Roman "show" with Mark Anthony and Cleopatra

We then walked through a shopping area with Genuine fake watches and camels

Then the Euphesus museum, where many of the original artifacts from the ancient city are on display

Dionysus

coins

Artemis and her plentiful breasts

Model of Artemis' temple as it once stood

Baby-face emperor Domitian

This huge statue used to stand in the market

The emperor Augustus was married to this gal, Livia

THEN we went to St John's Basilica. He was said to watch out for Mary in her final days, hiding her in the house on the hill and visiting her about every 10 days to bring food etc.

Originally, the Temple of Artemis stood here
(see the one white column that remains? It is now home to a stork and her nest).

Then the stones were "recycled" to build the St John's Basilica.

Those stones were used once more to build the neighboring Mosque.

Interesting how all three religions are built upon the same stones eh?
(Pagan, Christian and Muslim)

We then were treated to a Turkish buffet (and air conditioning)

Finally, we went to a carpet presentation

And bought one!

Our ship- and our treasure- our wrapped up, double knotted, wool on cotton, soon-to-be-come family heirloom, Turkish rug

fish

What a busy and lovely day!