Library of Celsus - Ephesus
by Stephen Stookey
Title
Library of Celsus - Ephesus
Artist
Stephen Stookey
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
The entrance to Library of Celsus remains as the iconic symbol of the once grand and powerful city of Ephesus. Ephesus' roots date back to the 10th century BCE. Situated at the mouth of the Cayster River and the Aegean Sea, Ephesus emerged as a major center of travel and commerce in Asia Minor. The city's Temple of Artemis (Artemision), completed c. 560 BCE, was counted among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In the New Testament era silversmiths, profiting from the sale of Artemis statues, rioted in opposition to the Christian preaching of the Apostle Paul (a three year resident of Ephesus). Acts 19:23-41 mentions the theater in connection with the protests. They feared, rightfully so, the impact of Paul's preaching on statue sales. Ephesus emerged as a major, influential center of early Christianity. The later years of the Apostle John's life, as well as those of the Virgin Mary, are connected with Ephesus. The city is one of the seven cities addressed in the Book of revelation. In 401 CE zealous Christians, led by John Chrysostom, then Patriarch of Constantinople, destroyed what remained of the great Temple of Artemis. The ecumenical Council of Ephesus (431 CE) gathered Christian bishops to debate competing theologies of Jesus Christ. Ephesus gradually lost its influence in the ancient world following a destructive earthquake in 614 CE and the loss of its harbor due to heavy silting from the Cayster River. The remains of the city that once captivated travelers on the Aegean coast now lies several miles inland due to the heavy silting over the centuries from the Cayster River.
Tourists from around the globe still make the pilgrimage to Turkey's Izmir province to view the extensive archeological remains of the once powerful ancient city. While only a fraction of the ancient metropolitan city is excavated, visitors marvel at the amphitheater, the Library of Celsus, the once-opulent terrace houses, and marble streets lined with remains of temples, shrines, and businesses.
Image captured with a Canon 5D Mark III & Canon 16-35 f/2.8L II lens.
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Uploaded
February 7th, 2015
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