Ephesus

Ephesus was an ancient Greek city located on the Ionian coast, in what is now Selçuk, İzmir Province, Turkey. It was founded in the 10th century BC by Attic and Ionian Greek colonists on the site of Apasa, a city-state that had served as the capital of Arzawa. In the Classical Greek period, Ephesus was one of the twelve cities belonging to the Ionian League. The city fell under Roman Republican control in 129 BC.

In its heyday, Ephesus was renowned for the Temple of Artemis, completed around 550 BC and counted among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Its other major structures included the Library of Celsus and a theatre that could seat 24,000 people. The city is mentioned in one of the Pauline epistles and is listed among the seven churches of Asia in the Book of Revelation. The Gospel of John may have been composed there, and it hosted several 5th-century Christian councils, notably the Council of Ephesus. The Goths destroyed Ephesus in 263. Though later rebuilt, its significance as a port and commercial hub declined as the Küçükmenderes River gradually silted up its harbour. An earthquake partially destroyed the city in 614.

Today, the ruins of Ephesus are a popular destination for both international and local tourists, reachable from Adnan Menderes Airport and the resort town of Kuşadası. In 2015, the site was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.