Not far from Izmir, we visited Ephesus.
According to legend, Ephesus was founded in 11BC either by Amazons and their queen was called Ephesia. Or by an Ionian Prince by using the Delphi Oracle( a fortune telling device near Athens)
The ancient Ephesians was worshipping Artemis the fertility diety at the time before St Pauls evangelism and ministry arrived with the message of our Lord Jesus. They flourished by trade and Paul did manage to change some hearts we understand but Jesus rebuked the ones still engaging in immorality: Rev 2;4 KJV "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love". referring to the Spirit of the Law because they struggled to keep up the passion for Him. I guess it was like learning how to walk as a toddler and not wanting to mature and walk without a baby walker.
Pauls mission set up a church there and spent a few years there, he wrote one epistle of the Corinthian book also I believe. He wanted sound doctrine preached and urged Timothy to remain to teach also. Believers burned their witchcraft books which may have been shelved in the Library of Celsus and some of the Ancient Greek writing can be seen on stones. The Christian symbolism of the cross were chiselled into the temples pillars and stones. among other pagan symbols(the caduceus, the healing staff with serpent entwined, which could have also been possibly Moses staff as this was evident on the pillars also. Then when he left a few years later , he wrote them a letter called the book of Ephesians wrote around A.D. 60-63 which teaches about who we are in Christ. And my favourite verse is of reminding them of the struggles and not to loose hope and stand against the devil and his schemes. Ephesians 6:10-11: "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes."
In chapter 19 of the book of acts mentions a chap called Demetruis who got fed up of Paul attacking his cult because he was a silversmith minting coins with Artemis on it and loosing money...so he tried a riot but the Ephesian Officals protected Paul which led Christianity to be the official religion of the city
.
It was such a great experience to walk in St Paul and the missionaries footsteps.
They were doing some work on the library of celsus, which stands in the background (built around 110AD. Tiberius I believed commissioned it. It was believed to have accommodated about 12 thousand scrolls...which eventually the library was destroyed by a fire, from either the goth invasion 262 AD or earthquake. earthquakes are rife here. Izmir suffered tremendously by a huge quake in 202 killing and injuring many people and buildings 
.
Christian symbolism cross markings on what would have been pillars or entrances to places.
1. Library of Celsus.
2. greek writing and some other unusual writing. Plus another Christian cross.
3.more christian symbolism engravings.
4. The amphitheatre. Holds about 50,000 people in its day, it was believed.
5. The marble road, which led to the temple of Artemis. all is left is one pillar due to quakes in the area.
6. Cat on Caduceus
7. Looking out from the amphitheatre to the famous marble road.
the agora, where St Paul would have assembled and preached.
According to legend, Ephesus was founded in 11BC either by Amazons and their queen was called Ephesia. Or by an Ionian Prince by using the Delphi Oracle( a fortune telling device near Athens)
The ancient Ephesians was worshipping Artemis the fertility diety at the time before St Pauls evangelism and ministry arrived with the message of our Lord Jesus. They flourished by trade and Paul did manage to change some hearts we understand but Jesus rebuked the ones still engaging in immorality: Rev 2;4 KJV "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love". referring to the Spirit of the Law because they struggled to keep up the passion for Him. I guess it was like learning how to walk as a toddler and not wanting to mature and walk without a baby walker.
Pauls mission set up a church there and spent a few years there, he wrote one epistle of the Corinthian book also I believe. He wanted sound doctrine preached and urged Timothy to remain to teach also. Believers burned their witchcraft books which may have been shelved in the Library of Celsus and some of the Ancient Greek writing can be seen on stones. The Christian symbolism of the cross were chiselled into the temples pillars and stones. among other pagan symbols(the caduceus, the healing staff with serpent entwined, which could have also been possibly Moses staff as this was evident on the pillars also. Then when he left a few years later , he wrote them a letter called the book of Ephesians wrote around A.D. 60-63 which teaches about who we are in Christ. And my favourite verse is of reminding them of the struggles and not to loose hope and stand against the devil and his schemes. Ephesians 6:10-11: "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes."
In chapter 19 of the book of acts mentions a chap called Demetruis who got fed up of Paul attacking his cult because he was a silversmith minting coins with Artemis on it and loosing money...so he tried a riot but the Ephesian Officals protected Paul which led Christianity to be the official religion of the city
.It was such a great experience to walk in St Paul and the missionaries footsteps.
They were doing some work on the library of celsus, which stands in the background (built around 110AD. Tiberius I believed commissioned it. It was believed to have accommodated about 12 thousand scrolls...which eventually the library was destroyed by a fire, from either the goth invasion 262 AD or earthquake. earthquakes are rife here. Izmir suffered tremendously by a huge quake in 202 killing and injuring many people and buildings .Christian symbolism cross markings on what would have been pillars or entrances to places.
1. Library of Celsus.2. greek writing and some other unusual writing. Plus another Christian cross.
3.more christian symbolism engravings.
4. The amphitheatre. Holds about 50,000 people in its day, it was believed.
5. The marble road, which led to the temple of Artemis. all is left is one pillar due to quakes in the area.
6. Cat on Caduceus
7. Looking out from the amphitheatre to the famous marble road.
the agora, where St Paul would have assembled and preached.
