Before leaving the area, we visited the Ephesus Museum in Selcuk.  Even before Roman times, Ephesus was known as the center for the worship of Artemis (Cybele), the Anatolian Mother Goddess.  On display was the marble statue of Artemis (Cybele), dating from the 2nd century AD.
To the Christian church, Ephesus was important.  Apostle Paul lived in Ephesus for 3 years and while here wrote his letters to the Ephesians.  The Third Ecumenical Council was held in Ephesus in 431 AD.  And supposedly, Virgin Mary spent the last years of her life 5 miles from Ephesus.  When Jesus was on the cross, he asked Apostle John to look after his mother, Mary.  When John came to Ephesus around 37 AD, he brought Mary with him.  Today there was a modest stone house and chapel built on the site where allegedly Mary had lived and ascended into heaven on August 15.  We visited this reverend site; total serenity pervaded the area.  Interestingly, this site was also revered by Muslims as Mary was the mother of the prophet Jesus.  Below the chapel, bits of white cloth had been tied to the wall where Turks had come to make a wish.
In Pumukkale, the white travertine terraces and pools were dazzling in the late afternoon sun, all created when warm mineral water cooled and, over time, deposited layers of calcium carbonate over the surface.  Above Pumukkale were the sparse ruins of the spa city of Hierapolis, dating from Roman times.
Page 7
Next Page
Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1