EPHESUS & PAMUKKALE (2 Days 1 Night)

EPHESUS

EPHESUS is the largest and best-preserved ancient city of the whole Mediterranean, and is the most visited tourist attraction in TURKEY. Situated by a fine harbor of overland trade routes, and beneficiary of the lucrative cults of the ANATOLIAN mother goddess CYCBLE/ARTEMIS, EPHESUS led a charmed life from earliest times. Legends relte that ANDROCULOS, son of king KODRUS of ATHENS had been advised by an oracle to settle at a place indicated by a fish and wild boar.

During the imperial period it was designated the capital of ASIA, and ornamented with magnificent public buildings.

Despite or perhaps because of CHRISTIANITY EPHESUS took root early and quickly.

Saint John the Evangelist arrived in the mid-first century, and Saint Paul spent the years 51-53 AD in the City.

THE CHURCH OF SAINT MARY: constructed between the 2nd and 4th centuries AD. The building, originally a ROMAN WAREHOUSE was the venue of the Economics Council in 431 AD.

THE ARCADIAN WAY: (currently off-limits while adjacent digs are underway), i so named after the 5th Century BYZANTINE emperor ARCADIUS who renovated it.

THE ANCIENT THEATRE: This is the largest and the most impressive, recently and brutally restored to provide additional seating forthe various summer festivals. If you bother to climb past the 20,000 seats of half-modern masonry to the top, you will see the panoramic view of the surrounding countryside.

THE MARBLE STREET: Begins near the base of the theatre and heads almost straight south

THE ANCIENT BROTHEL: Located in the very centre of the Roman city.

THE LIBRARY OF CELCIUS: Originally erected by the consul GAIUS JULIUS AQUILA between 110 & 135 AD, as a memorial to this father CELCIUS POLEMAEANUS still entombed.

PAMUKKALE

Built up over thousands of years, mineral deposits carried by the natural hot springs of HIERAPOLIS have resulted in one of the most spectacular natural wonders of the world.

The therapeutic properties and bizarre appearance of the hot spring were known for thousands of years before an actual town was founded herre by one of the PERGAMENE kings during the 2nd Century BC.

After incorporation into the Roman Empire in 129 BC HIERAPOLIS seems to have enjoyed considerable imperial favour, especially after a catastrophic earthquake in 17 & 60 AD. No fewer than three emperors paid personal visits, stimulating local emperor - worship alongside the veneration of APOLLO and his mother LETO, who was venerated in the guise of CYCBLE.

The city was famous for the health-giving properties of its mineral water and hot springs and gained great popularity during the Roman period. The Roman Baths, Domitian Gate, Theatre, Temple of Apollo and Fountain are only some of the ruins to be seen.