More photos of Ephesus

On our short visit to the western coast of Turkey, the port of Kusadasi and the ancient Greco-Roman city of Ephesus, we also had a brief tour of the Basilica of St John the Apostle.

 Basilica of St John the Apostle - Signs in English for the tourists.

 In around 565 AD the Roman Emperor Justinian built this enormous church over what was believed to be the tomb of St John, who survived the persecutions of Domitian and spent his final years at Ephesus, writing his Epistles and the Book of Revelation before dying around 100 AD.  Not much is left of the Basilica, once so huge and magnificent, a rival to Istanbul's Hagia Sophia. The ruins are near the citadel in Selcuk, now a jumble of brick and stone, very difficult to detect the original cross-shape of the building. 

 Built around 565 AD, and destroyed by the Seljuk Turks in the 12th century

 

 Exterior of the Basilica of St John

 

 Interior of the Basilica...

 

 The Tomb of St John the Apostle

 

 Impressive ruins of the Basilica

 

 Part of the exterior wall and some examples of carved stonework

 

 Can't resist posting another photo of the beautiful Turkish carpets, hand-woven in silk and wool.

 

 Back in Ephesus, two local women are trying to do their shopping and avoid the tourists.

 

 The long, straight paved Roman road through Ephesus, leading to what was the port.

 

 I just loved how artistically the proprietor of this concession stand displayed these oranges

 

The cats of Ephesus, oblivious to the dust, heat, and mobs of tourists.

 

 

After the return bus ride through quaint hillside villages surrounded by olive groves and fruit orchards, we made it back to the cruise ship, and set sail for the next stop:

SANTORINI!!