More Ancient Cities: Ephesus, Lindos, and Rhodes
On Saturday, we visited the site of the ancient Turkish city of Ephesus, and today (Sunday) we docked in Rhodes, on the Greek island of Rhodes. We went on an excursion to the town of Lindos and then explored the Old Town of Rhodes. Ephesus was once a mighty seaport, one of the largest cities of the ancient Mediterranean world. Excavations have dated remains of structures built there as far back as the tenth century BC. Ephesus once housed the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The library (lit beautifully by the morning sun) was one of the most impressive in the ancient world and scholars came here to study, read, and debate. Paul and John brought Christianity to Ephesus, and suffered imprisonment and death for their efforts. Mary, the mother of Jesus, is thought to have come to Ephesus with John, and the first church dedicated to her was erected in Ephesus. The tetras-style stones in the distan...