by Androclos, the son of legendary King of Athens. Seeming to hold the common understanding of the nature of life and the purpose of human life in contempt (as, in fact, he seemed to hold most, if not all, the human beings he came in contact with) Heraclitus compared most peoples understanding to that of those asleep. Significance Today: The lesson in the letter to Ephesus teaches that truth and love must go hand-in-hand. 1Corinthians 15:32If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? 1. It is believed John died in the city at the end of the first century A.D. According to some sources, Ephesus was at the time second only to Rome as a cosmopolitan center of culture and commerce. KJV: he said, [Ye] men of Ephesus, what man INT: says Men Ephesians what indeed. During the Byzantine era, Constantine the Great declared Christianity the official religion of all of Rome and made Constantinople the capital of the Roman Eastern Empire. The Lydian King Croesus, who ruled from 560 B.C. Its access to the sea brought it ships from many places within the Empire. Also we see in Act 18:15 that St John the Baptist disciples came to Ephesus after the Jesus Christ’s ascension. In 431 A.D., a council was held in the Church of Saint Mary which confirmed the Virgin Mary as the mother of God. Acts 19:35 Adj-GMP GRK: γινώσκει τὴν Ἐφεσίων πόλιν νεωκόρον KJV: how that the city of the Ephesians is INT: knows the of [the] Ephesians city temple-keeper. Ephesus was founded as an Attic-Ionian colony in the 10th century BC on a hill (now known as the Ayasuluk Hill), three kilometers (1.9 miles) from the centre of ancient Ephesus (as attested by excavations at the Seljuk castle during the 1990s). After Ephesus City was invaded by Goths in 263 AD and they destroyed both the city and the Temple of Artemis. 1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus, write the following: (Rev 2:1) The city of Ephesus was one of the most remarkable jewels of the ancient world, in fact possibly number three in population in the Asia Minor (around 150,000 people), which is located in the Modern day Turkey. Current World Archaeology. Location The ancient city of Ephesus, located in western Asia Minor at the mouth of the Cayster River, was an important seaport. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z. EPHESUS. The reforms of Caesar Augustus brought Ephesus to its most prosperous time, which lasted until the third century A.D. Ephesus was one of the seven churches of Asia to which the Revelation to John was addressed. It was founded in the tenth century BC (probably on or near the ruins of an even older settlement) and prior to the Roman conquest was ruled alternately by Ionians, Cimmerians, Lydians, Persians and finally the Greeks under Alexander the Great. Acts 21:29 Adj-AMS GRK: Τρόφιμον τὸν Ἐφέσιον ἐν τῇ Subscribe for fascinating stories connecting the past to the present. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. In 281 B.C., Lysimachus was killed at the Battle of Corupedium and the city was renamed Ephesus again. The church excelled at testing those who claimed divine inspiration and hated the teachings of those, like the Nicolaitans, who supported a hierarchical church structure. The temple was later destroyed and never rebuilt. Ephesus was taken in 655 and 717 by the Arabs. 2:1).Ephesus was at one time a center of learning, also of commerce. The mythical founder of the city was a prince of Athens named Androklos, who had to leave his country after the death of his father, King Kodros. It is also possible Jesus' mother Mary, whom John was asked by Christ to take care of (John 19:26 - 27), followed him to Ephesus and died there. Ancient Ephesus City (Ephesus Breeze). In 262 A.D., the Goths destroyed Ephesus, including the Temple of Artemis. Military History Encyclopedia on the Web. Developed in the 8th century B.C., the sanctuary was home to the Oracle of Delphi and the priestess Pythia, who was famed throughout the ancient world for divining the future and was consulted before ...read more, The Parthenon is a resplendent marble temple built between 447 and 432 B.C. Ephesus. Ephesus City lived it’s Golden age in Roman Empire and christianized during 1 centry AD by visits of Apostle St. John and St. Paul. Ephesus is twice mentioned in the Apocalypse (1:11; 2:1). The Ottoman Empire took final control of Ephesus in the fifteenth century; however, the city was in dire straits, its harbor practically useless. The central building faculty of the consciousness called desire. The legend says that as Androclos searched for a new Greek settlement, he turned to the Delphi oracles for guidance. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! The Hagia Sophia is an enormous architectural marvel in Istanbul, Turkey, that was originally built as a Christian basilica nearly 1,500 years ago. Ephesus is located near the western shores of modern-day Turkey, where the Aegean Sea meets the former estuary of the River Kaystros, about 80 kilometers south of Izmir, Turkey. Not every Ephesian was open to Paul’s Christian message. Unlike other great Hellenistic/Roman cities—Alexandria, Antioch, Rome, Constantinople—Ephesus was abandoned in antiquity. During the reign of Tiberius, Ephesus flourished as a port city. Acts 20:17And from Miletus he (Paul) sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. His desire to preach and teach in Ephesus resulted in him residing in it for roughly three and one half years. With an artificial harbor accessible to the largest ships, and rivaling the harbor at Miletus, standing at the entrance of the valley … Still, Ephesus was a port city with a deteriorating harbor and there was only so much that could be done to literally keep it afloat. Mary, the mother of Jesus, is thought to have spent her last years in Ephesus with Saint John. • God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, such that even handkerchiefs and aprons touched by … Much of Ephesus’s ancient history is unrecorded and sketchy. It was estimated to be four times larger than the Parthenon and became known as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. UNESCO. This valley slopes toward the sea. A church that upholds doctrinal purity at the expense of showing love is just as flawed as a church that upholds congregational harmony at the expense of truthful teachings. Ephesus was one of the seven churches of Revelation that received a spiritual evaluation directly from Jesus Christ (Revelation 2:1 - 7). let us eat and drink: for to morrow we die. In 334 B.C., Alexander the Great defeated the Persians and entered Ephesus. Recalling the oracles’ wisdom, Androclos built his new settlement where the bushes stood and called it Ephesus. A business district was opened around 43 B.C. Both St. Paul and St. John spent the Apostle years in Ephesus. By the end of that century, Ephesus was abandoned, its legacy left to archaeologists, historians and the thousands of visitors to flock to the region each year to see the ancient ruins. Much like the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Parthenon in Athens, the Hagia Sophia is a long-enduring symbol of the cosmopolitan ...read more, The Acropolis of Athens is one of the most famous ancient archaeological sites in the world. It was colonized principally from Athens. to 547 B.C., was most famous for funding the rebuilding of the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus. For example, ephesos (Ephesus) sounds similar to the Greek words arestos (desirable) and epitrepo (permitted). Some define the name Ephesus as meaning “desirable.” In John ’s day Ephesus was the leading city of the Roman province of Asia, and later was its capital. The ruined city of Ephesus, pronounced Eph-e-sus (as [efəsəs]), is a true marvel, for it is a place of great historical, cultural and architectural significance. Ancient Ephesus lies in a valley between two hills. The Temple of Artemis was destroyed, its ruins used to build Christian churches. Ephesus is one of the most popular places to go in Turkey for travelers interested in Biblical and historical sites. Ephesus, now Selçuk in modern Turkey, was one of the most famous cities of the ancient Mediterranean. Emperor Theodosius erased all traces of Artemis during his reign. Another legend says Ephesus was founded by the Amazons, a tribe of female warriors, and that the city was named after their queen, Ephesia. Ephesus. Bible Dictionaries - Easton's Bible Dictionary - Ephesus. Starting in the first century A.D., notable Christians such as Saint Paul and Saint John visited and rebuked the cults of Artemis, winning many Christian converts in the process.Mary, the mother of Jesus, is thought to have spent her last years in Ephesus with Saint John. According to local belief, Ephesus was the last home of the Virgin, who was lodged near the city by St. John and died there. Some restoration of the city took place, but it never regained its splendor. ef'-e-sus (Ephesos, "desirable"): A city of the Roman province of Asia, near the mouth of the Cayster river, 3 miles from the western coast of Asia Minor, and opposite the island of Samos. Biblegateway.com. This is all a part of the beautiful park or paradise of God. Ephesus was one of the seven churches of Revelation that received a spiritual evaluation directly from Jesus Christ (Revelation 2:1 - 7). It was also the birthplace of the renowned philosopher Heraclitus. Series NotesScripture quotes are taken from the King James translation.The definition of each listingis derived from a variety of sources. Ephesus continued to deteriorate, although it experienced a brief period of growth and construction under the rule of the Seljuk Turks in the fourteenth century. . Located on a limestone hill high above Athens, Greece, the Acropolis has been inhabited since prehistoric times. According to legend, the Ionian prince Androclos founded Ephesus in the eleventh century B.C. What does Lazarus, Rich Man parable mean. . Ephesus. Their identification and stirring up of the crowd began a long series of events that would lead to Paul being arrested by the Romans and sent to Rome for trial. Over the centuries, the Acropolis was many things: a home to kings, a ...read more, Delphi was an ancient religious sanctuary dedicated to the Greek god Apollo. Ephesus in The Bible As is known Turkey and Ancient Ephesus City had an important role for the early Christianity. Ephesus synonyms, Ephesus pronunciation, Ephesus translation, English dictionary definition of Ephesus. Dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena, the Parthenon sits high atop a compound of temples known as the Acropolis of Athens. Ephesus was located near the mouth of the Cayster River only three miles from the coast. https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-greece/ephesus. All Rights Reserved. It was noted for its wonderful temple that was built for worship of the goddess Diana.. Meta. ... and in The knowledges of good and truth from Some define the name Ephesus as meaning “desirable.” In John ’s day Ephesus was the leading city of the Roman province of Asia, and later was its capital. Acts 19. Initially colonized by the Athenians, it grew to 250,000+ inhabitants in the first century B.C., making it the second largest populated area in the known world. Its location on the great east-west road that ran from it to the Euphrates River also contributed to it being a chief hub of trade and a place where people wanted to live. Therefore, scholars have proposed that the city may have originally been assigned one of these names, but then over time the pronunciation of the name changed to ephesos (Ephesus). Having such ancient treasures like the remains of the giant Temple of Artemis, the lavish Library of Celsus, a still existing large 25,000 seat amphitheater, the well preserved temple of the Emperor Hadrian and well looked after Terrace Houses (Houses of Rich). An ancient city of Greek Asia Minor in present-day western Turkey. Lysimachus moved Ephesus two miles away and built a new harbor and new defensive walls. . The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well. History and description of the various attractions in Ephesus by a local tour agency that offers day trips at a reasonable cost. It was the first known democracy in the world. Heraclitus of Ephesus (c. 500 BCE) was known to his contemporaries as the 'dark philosopher, so-called because his writings were so difficult to understand. ; however, after being defeated at the Battle of Magnesia six years later, Ephesus fell under Pergamon rule. The Seleucid king Antiochus III took back Ephesus in 196 B.C. Modern-day excavations have revealed that three smaller Artemis temples preceded the Croesus temple. With an artificial harbor accessible to the largest ships, and rivaling the harbor at Miletus, standing at the entrance of the valley which reaches far into the interior of Asia Minor, and connected by highways with the chief cities of the province, Ephesus was the most easily accessible city in Asia… The Apostle Paul evangelized the city during his second and third missionary journeys and started the first Christian church in it (Acts 19). Located on the Aegean Sea, Ephesus was ideally situated to become a center of wealth. Ephesus continued to thrive even as other Ionian cities rebelled against Persian rule. Little remains of it today, although some of its remnants reside in the British Museum, including a column with Croesus’s signature. to service the massive amounts of goods arriving or departing from the man-made harbor and from caravans traveling the ancient Royal Road. According to Greek mythology, the ancient city of Ephesus was established by Greeks in 11 Century B.C. Battle of Magnesia, December 190 B.C. He banned freedom of worship, closed the schools and temples and forbade women many of the rights they’d enjoyed before. What is known is that in the seventh century B.C., Ephesus fell under the rule of the Lydian Kings and became a thriving city where men and women enjoyed equal opportunities. As well as having a very important association with early Christianity. This left Ephesus, a city already facing decline due to accumulating silt in its harbor, left to fend increasingly for itself. It’s name written in Holy Bible 16 times and known as one of the most important Early Christian City. Throughout history, Ephesus survived multiple attacks and changed hands many times between conquerors. And he sailed from Ephesus. Acts 18:19 - 21And he (Paul) came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. Ephesus is also known as; Ephisus, E… during the height of the ancient Greek Empire. In the same city the fierce general Lachanodracon put to death thirty-eight monks from the monastery of Pelecete in Bithynia and other partisans of the holy images . Ephesus [N] [H] [S] the capital of proconsular Asia, which was the western part of Asia Minor. Founded in the Bronze Age and important from ancient Greek times, it contained the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and served as a crossroads between the East and West for centuries. Ephesus played a vital role in the spread of Christianity. 2. --desirable; appealing.A city of Asia Minor, and capital of Ionia (Acts 20:17; Rev. Acts 19:35And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter? Ephesus played a vital role in the spread of Christianity. She was also one of the most revered Greek deities. Starting in the first century A.D., notable Christians such as Saint Paul and Saint John visited and rebuked the cults of Artemis, winning many Christian converts in the process. Metaphysical meaning of Ephesus (mbd) Ephesus, eph'-e-sus (Gk.) It was Jews from Asia, most of which were from the city and knew what the Apostle Paul looked like, that identified him in Jerusalem's temple (Acts 21:27). 2Timothy 1:16, 18The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain . These other cities continue to thrive today, which means that they cannot be completely excavated. The Biblical Significance of Ephesus The ancient city of Ephesus is a favourite destination of tourists visiting Turkey because of its breath-taking ruins and significant historical and religious significance. They are also, however, reminders of the human capacity for disagreement, ...read more, Jerusalem is a city located in modern-day Israel and is considered by many to be one of the holiest places in the world. Demetrius made silver coins featuring the likeness of Artemis. Unfortunately, since they had left their first love of the gospel, they were in danger of dying out. In 546 B.C., Ephesus fell to the Persian Empire, along with the rest of Anatolia. . Throughout the centuries, the ...read more, Mycenae is an ancient city located on a small hill between two larger hills on the fertile Argolid Plain in Peloponnese, Greece. In 356 B.C., a crazed man named Herostratus burned down the Temple of Artemis. The structure, completed around 126-128 A.D. during the reign of Emperor Hadrian, features a rotunda with a massive domed ceiling that was the largest of its kind when it was built. . Jerusalem is a site of major significance for the three largest monotheistic religions: Judaism, Islam and Christianity, and both Israel and Palestine have ...read more. The city relied heavily on its iconic places of worship to attract visitors to support its struggling economy. Acts 19:26Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands . It had great natural advantages that made it ideal for prosperity and growth. "use strict";(function(){var insertion=document.getElementById("citation-access-date");var date=new Date().toLocaleDateString(undefined,{month:"long",day:"numeric",year:"numeric"});insertion.parentElement.replaceChild(document.createTextNode(date),insertion)})(); FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. Ephesians 1:1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus. Most of the Ephesian ruins seen today such as the enormous amphitheater, the Library of Celsus, the public space (agora) and the aqueducts were built or rebuilt during Augustus’s reign. In 263 B.C., Ephesus fell under Egyptian rule along with much of the Seleucid Empire. Artemis was the goddess of the hunt, chastity, childbirth, wild animals and the wilderness. The apostle John, according to tradition, spent many years in Ephesus, where he died and was buried. In 129 B.C., King Attalos of Pergamon left Ephesus to the Roman Empire in his will and the city became the seat of the regional Roman governor. The city was famous for its temple of Diana (or Artemis, Acts 19:27 ), and pilgrims came to Ephesus from all over the Mediterranean world to worship the goddess. Livius.org. It was located at the western terminus of a great highway that crossed Asia Minor from Syria, and this, together with its seaport on the Aegean, made it a major city for trade. Tours, Athens, Greece 35A, Dimokratias str., Athens,Greece Phone: + 30 210 2323604 Fax: + 30 210 2323604 E-mail: info@christianbibletours.org Member of the Greek Tourism Organization Chapter 19 in the Book of Acts tells of a riot started by a man named Demetrius. Though not stated in Scripture, tradition has the Apostle John living in the city before and after his banishment to the island of Patmos. The Pantheon is situated on ...read more, In the year 507 B.C., the Athenian leader Cleisthenes introduced a system of political reforms that he called demokratia, or “rule by the people” (from demos, “the people,” and kratos, or “power”). During this time, the heavy taxes imposed by the Roman government led to the rebellion of Mithridates and, in 88 BCE, a massacre of all the Latin speaking inhabitants of the city was carried out during the storming and sack of Ephesus by the Roman army under Sulla. This well-illustrated page is a helpful overview of Paul’s time in the city. Additionally, the city of Ephesus was known as a center of pagan worship as the Temple of the Greek goddess Artemis (Roman goddess Diana), considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient … The apostle John, according to tradition, spent many years in Ephesus, where he died and was buried. Ephesus was an ancient port city whose well-preserved ruins are in modern-day Turkey. In light of the content of the letter to this church in Revelation 2, Pastor Armstrong favors the interpretation of … The city was also home to the temple of Diana (Artemis), considered to be one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. Upon his death in 323 B.C., one of his generals, Lysimachus, took over the city and renamed it Arsineia. 1Timothy 1:3 - 4As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. Her house and John’s tomb can be visited there today. I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy endurance, and that thou canst not bear the evil, and hast tried them that say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars; It became the capitol of Asia Minor, was connected by highways with the interior of Asia and all her chief cities, and became a great commercial center. The Ephesians rebuilt the temple even bigger. © 2020 A&E Television Networks, LLC. Later it became the capital of the theme of the Thracesians. The city was once considered the most important Greek city and the most important trading center in the Mediterranean region. One day, as Androclos was frying fish over an open fire, a fish flopped out of the frying pan and landed in the nearby bushes. After that Ephesus became once mor… In the time of the Romans it bore the title of "the first and greatest metropolis of Asia." Ephesus was a splendid Greek city of Asia Minor, situated half-way up the western coast of modern-day Turkey, on the river Cayster. Ephesus and its inhabitants are mentioned more than twenty times in the New Testament. It was also a hotbed of early Christian evangelism and remains an important archaeological site and Christian pilgrimage destination. There are, however, a couple of significant problems with interpreting Paul’s beasts as literal animals. … Apostle Paul in Ephesus (ToursAroundTurkey.com). During the Iconoclastic period two bishops of Ephesus suffered martyrdom, Hypatius in 735 and Theophilus in the ninth century. This system was comprised of three ...read more, The amazing works of art and architecture known as the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World serve as a testament to the ingenuity, imagination and sheer hard work of which human beings are capable. Tired of Paul’s attacks on the goddess he worshipped, and worried that the spread of Christianity would ruin his trade, Demetrius plotted a riot and enticed a large crowd to turn against Paul and his disciples. The Bronze-age acropolis, or citadel built on a hill, is one of the great cities of the Mycenaean civilization that played a vital role in classical ...read more, The Pantheon is one of the best-preserved monuments of ancient Rome. Ephesus is mentioned multiple times in the New Testament, and the biblical book of Ephesians, written around 60 A.D., is thought to be a letter from Paul to Ephesian Christians, although some scholars question the source. Unfortunately, since they had left their first love of the gospel, they were in danger of dying out. He asked the oracles in Delphi where and how he could find a new settlement for Greeks. Military History Encyclopedia on the Web. Byzantine Ephesus: Life in the City after Empire. The city suffered severe damage in an earthquake in 17 CE. spiritual meaning of ephesus. Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden lampstands. In 129 BCE the Roman Empire acquired Ephesus according to the will left by Attalos, King of Pergamon, by which they were bequeathed his kingdom. The emperor had made Ephesus a free city and it was given the title “Supreme Metropolis of Asia.” It also contained one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the temple of Diana, and was a center of mystical cult worship. Leave a Comment / Uncategorized. The oracles told him a boar and a fish would show him the new location. In the sixth and seventh centuries A.D., a massive earthquake and the harbor’s continuing decline left Ephesus a shell of the city it used to be, and Arab invasions forced most of the population of Ephesus to flee and start a new settlement. C.B. A city of the Roman province of Asia, near the mouth of the Cayster river, 3 miles from the western coast of Asia Minor, and opposite the island of Samos. . Ephesian officials, however, protected Paul and his followers and eventually Christianity became the city’s official religion. The Ephesian people, however, wouldn’t relocate and remained in their homes until Lysimachus forced them to move. As Marvin Vincent mentions in his Word Studies in the New Testament, the young men of Ephesus were famous for their bull-fighting. Ancient History Encyclopedia. The answer of oracles was very interesting and simple. Ephesus was a city on the western coast of Asia Minor, near the mouth of the Cayster River. The tradition that St. Luke also died there seems to be less strongly supported. A spark ignited the bushes and a wild boar ran out. Ephesus is twice mentioned in the Apocalypse ( 1:11; 2:1). Ephesus was the prosperous capital of the Roman province of Asia. The church excelled at testing those who claimed divine inspiration and hated the teachings of those, like the Nicolaitans, who supported a hierarchical church structure. “The temple was 425 feet long, 220 feet wide, and 6… Revelation 2:1 - 2Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write: These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks: I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil .