Ephesus

Six hours is about as long as I've ever spent at any one site (at least in one day), but that's how long we were at Ephesus today.  And with good reason.  It's a huge site with lots to see, even if your group doesn't wile away time on discussions of Roman citizenship.

We left our hotel at 7:30 with three cruise ships already at the docks,

hoping to beat at least some of the crowds.  We did, but not for long.  Ephesus is the most crowded archaeological site I've ever been to.  We saw most of the usual sights:

the Library:

the Theater:

and the terrace houses:

all of which were pretty sweet.  We also saw some more unusual sights, including
Bugs:

Owls:

and the "Cave of Paul" - only recently discovered and shown only to special people.  (Our guide had a connection with the former archaeologist of Ephesus who gave us a personal tour.)  The cave dates to about the 5th century AD, but the frescos of Paul, Jesus, and others may be later.  There is evidence of a Christian presence here until the 19th century. 

Once we finished with Ephesus we visited a carpet factory.  We felt a little guilty that none of us bought anything, but it was fascinating to see the process of how carpets are made, as well as where silk comes from.  

We also visited the Ephesus Museum, St. John's Basillica:

and the Temple of Artemis:

Thought for the day:
As we were going through Ephesus I tried to read through Ephesians.  I came across this passage:

Ephesians 2:17-22
And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.  So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.   In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

We had just learned in the library how buildings were "joined together" then.  It involved making groves or drilling holes and pouring in molten lead to seal the two blocks together.  

Ephesians would have seen this done many times, probably on the numerous temples that graced the city, if not elsewhere.  The picture in their minds would have been very clear, and it would have drawn a sharp contrast between them, a living temple, and the pagan world around them that worshipped false gods in temples of stone.  

Now off to bed and on to more sites tomorrow!