Six Girls and One Boy

DAY 6--Kusadasi, TURKEY/Ephesus

Kusadasi, which means "bird island," a name derived from the small island (Pigeon Island) which is now connected to the city by a causeway,  is one of the most popular seaside resorts in Turkey.

Turkey has been prominent as a center of commerce because of its land connections to three continents and the seas surrounding it on three sides (Black, Mediterranean and Aejean Seas).

We felt very welcomed by the Turkish people. 

These Turkish youths dressed in their countrys' costume, sang Turkish songs and safety-pinned a traditional blue and white glass bead on each person.  The beads are believed to protect against the evil-eye!

SHORE EXCURSION TO EPHESUS:

If you have never heard of or been to Ephesus (only 20 minutes outside of Kusadasi--the port), be prepared to be amazed!    Ephesus, with a population of 250,000, was the most important Roman city of Asia Minor.  The city contains the largest collection of Roman ruins in the eastern Mediterranean.  In addition, the extensive and well-preserved ruins have only been about 15%  excavated. 

Famous people in Ephesus:

Apostle Paul - On Paul's third missionary journey, he stayed in Ephesus for three years where he established the Christian Church.  Ephesus was his "mission home" for Asia Minor.  Scholars agrees that Paul wrote four of his letters from Ephesus (2/4 while he was in prison there).

The Roman General, Marc Anthony, walked with Cleopatra down the Marble Road.

An early agora (marketplace)--built in the 3rd Century BC with Odeon Theater in the background. 

Columns of the marketplace

Odeon (Parliament) Theater--where state affairs were held(capacity of 1450 persons).  It is said that St. Paul was dragged into this theater to face the crowd because of his famous "Letter to the Ephesians."

Ionic capital--originally set on top of a column

Lion head capitals on wall from the various baths to the Odeon. 

 

A backgammon table dating from early AD period. 

Joyce with Prytaneion, one of the most important public buildings, which contained the sacred flame of the city and was never allowed to go out!  The base of an altar is still recognizable today.

More columns!

Our excellent Greek Guide

Aesculapius sign (the God of Medicine) indicates a physician's house

Front of Tomb of Memmius--built in the shape of a four-sided victory crown.  Memmius' grandfather was a dictator and hero of Ephesus.  Most of the figures were lost, but---

---the figures which are still visible on the side of the monument are of Memmius' father and grandfather.  

Flying Nike (Goddess of Victory)

This was a busy day!

A headless statue on Curetes Street

Curetes Street--named after a certain class of priests in Ephesus  called "currettes." The street was paved of marble and had a well-developed sewer system underneath.  There were mosaics and galleries of columns on either side of the street.  These galleries led into shops and homes. 

Column pedestals that bore inscriptions reminding citizens of those who helped the city. 

Fountain of Trajan--Constructed to honor Emperor Trajan, a statue of Trajan stood in the central niche on the facade overlooking the pool.  The pool was surrounded by columns and statues (now in Ephesus Museum). 

Peristyle Houses (rich or important people lived here)--had a small pool in the center and rooms arranged around the pool.  Most were three-story with marble columns on all sides.  There was running water to the houses, the floors were mosaic and the walls were decorated with frescoes or colored marble.

Another type of house on the slopes behind Ephesus were Terrace houses (with the roof of one house forming the terrace of that above it), also where the wealthier citizens lived.  In the building to the right archeologists are uncovering and restoring----

the beautifully preserved Terrace houses.

Frescos adorning the interior of one of the houses. 

Mosaic tiling was used along with marble.  Our guide told us Turkey has so much marble they even use it for their sidewalks.

Colonnaded galleries with mosaics on the floor were located on both sides of Curetes Street with a roof to protect the pedestrians from sun or rain.

Close up of mosaic tiled floors

Scholastica Baths--date back to the 1st Century AD

Doug with Temple of Hadrian---

the arch has a bust of the city goddess and the capital over the door has a---

likeness of Medussa!

Stacks of blocked stone with inscriptions!

The latrine--public toilets built in the first centruy AD.

The toilets were ranged side by side with no partitions between them but were flushed with constant running water.  All I've got to say is the Romans got to know their neighbors well!

In the middle of the square-shaped public latrine was a pool, and  the floor was paved with mosaics. 

A very large covered sarcophagus!

Celcus Library--reconstructed from all original pieces, was built in 2nd C. AD in honor of the Roman governor of Asia Minor, Celsus, to store 12,000 scrolls and to serve as a monumental tomb for Celsus.  It was unusual to be buried within a library or even within city limits, so this was a special honor for Celsus.

The Celsus Library facade is two-storied. 

The lower story has three richly ornamented doors between the columns . 

Intricate detail can be seen at the top of the arches!  The building faces east so that the reading rooms could make best use of the morning light.

The statues (copies of the originals) represented various virtues of Ephesus, as inscribed on their pedestals.

Closeup of one of the four female figures.

A statue of Celsus or of his son stood here, and Celsus' tomb lay directly below in a vaulted chamber. 

 The Gate of Mazeus and Mythridates--The gate to the right of the library was built in 40 AD by the slaves for their emperor, Augustus, who gave them their freedom.  

The Agora, or marketplace!

First advertisement in antiquity--showed the way to the Brothel!

Terra cotta pipe connected to a state-of-the art water supply nearly 2,000 years old.

The Romans built three aquaducts that brought the water into the city from the mountains.

 Stack of the original terra cotta clay pipes that conducted the water to decorative fountains and into wealthy peoples' homes.

Going into the Grand Theater through the actor's entrance---

---coming out---

and seeing a theater that held 25,000 people that is over 2,000 years old and still in such great condition was mind boggling!  

The builders of the theater took advantage of the natural slope of the mountain.  It is believed to be the largest outdoor theater in the ancient world.

Can you see Doug waving on the other side?  Below him is where we entered through the actor's entrance.

This is the scene area, which was a 3-story, multi-column structure facing the spectators.  There were statues in the niches in between the columns.

Joyce is standing in the orchestra pit, and to the upper right is the main floor or stage.  

 

By looking at the theatre behind Doug, you can see how it could hold 25,000 people!  There was even a nose-bleed section.

Looking back at the Grand Theater on the mountainside!

Doug coming down Grand Theater steps looking toward Harbour Street.. On either side of the street were covered shops with mosaic-floored porches.

Short presentation by Royal Caribbean/Celebrity Cruises along Harbour Street--"Live Ephesus with the Ephesians--"

Complete with costumed Caesars,

men in togas, women in colorful draped dresses,

and Roman soldiers--

The show was really well done!

Sarcophagi--funeral receptacles for a corpse, most often carved or cut from stone; ornately designed to remain above ground.

The sarcophagi in this field were found during the excavation of and around Ephesus.

Ephesus was one of the most important centers in producing half-finished sarcophagi with garland.

This ornately carved one definitely told a story!

Rams and bullheads draped in garland

Another one elaborately constructed!

Harbour Street (built in the 1st century BC)--The harbor is no more and the coastline is several miles away due to silt deposits from the river over the centuries.

Stadium--Different sports contests, such as horse-racing and chariot-racing were performed here.  There was a round arena on the one side where gladiators fought.

The Hellenistic city wall was built in the Third Century BC.  Today more than one-third of it is extremely well preserved and can be seen on the way to the House of Mary. 

House of Virgin Mary--

It is believed that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, came to Ephesus with St. John and was taken to this mountain home to survive Roman persecutions. 

The house was destroyed by earthquakes and not discovered until 1951 by a German nun who saw the location in a vision. 

Turkish soldier guarding the famous shrine

Because of the Nun's vision and because parts of the foundation and coal found on the site dated to the 1st Century, the Catholics declared it an offical pilgrimage site. 

The house was restored and is now visited by Popes, as well as Christian and Muslim pilgrims. 

The House of Virgin Mary--pilgrims come by the busloads!

A picture of the shrine inside the house since we couldn't take pictures.

House's exit--red line shows original foundation and part of wall from restored part.

"Water of Mary"-- pilgrims drink from a spring running under the house which is believed to have healing properties!

Prayer Wall--Pilgrims come from all over the world to visit the shrine, write their prayers on pieces of paper and attach them to the wall.

Scenes of the countryside as we travel back to Kusadasi--the farms seemed to be very productive.  They export a lot of Turkist apricots!

We were impressed with the cleanliness of the buses and friendliness of the people!

A seaside resort and---

entertainment/water park! 

Resort on the sea where they take busloads and busloads of tourists to eat after the shore excursions.

This beautiful indoor pool was part of the big open area where we ate.

Turkish buffet--I should have taken a picture of the tables and tables of food, especially the desserts.  The baklava was wonderful with walnuts, pistachios and soaked in honey!!!

Turkish rug demonstration(included in our shore excursion)--

The rug demonstration was very interesting and the salesmen were not as pushy as in China!!!

Soaking silk worm cocoons!

Long strands of raw silk hanging on the right

Beautiful yarn dyes

Each region of Turkey has their own unique design.

Vibrant colors and patterns of turkish rugs!

You can see why the rugs cost so much because of the various steps, including the hand weaving.

Turkish woman weaving on a loom!

Pigeon Island--a tiny fortified islet with more tourists than pigeons.

Fishing boats on our walk to Pigeon Island

Kusadasi was named after a small island, Pigeon Island,  which is now connected to the city by a causeway. 

A famous defensive castle (Byzantine Fortress) was built on the island to protect against enemy attacks,---

which can be seen as ships enters the harbor. 

The castle was built in the 16th Century.

A lighthouse on the island

Grand Bazaar--A haven for shoppers with street after street of shops that specialize in Turkish goods, such as leather goods, rugs, copperware and brass!

Our ship (Celebrity Solstice) docked next to its twin sister (Celebrity Equinox--just a little newer).

The small Pigeon Island at night as we pulled away. 


Tomorrow, our next stop--Rhodes, Greece!