Back in Turkey for an eyeblink: Ephesus

Today we are in TUrkey again and I have to tell you, I still love Turkey the most!  People are so friendly, accommodating, the country appears so happy (maybe because they conquered the Greeks for 400 years and like to lord it over them or something).  Whatever the reason, I would return here for more exploring in a flash, if offered the opportunity!  And I do think they are in such an interesting position: a secular country that is Muslim surrounded by more warlike Muslim countries on one side and CHristian countries on the other side!

Anyway, we spent the morning in Ephesus, the place St. Paul gave the speech to the Ephesians and was booed off the stage -- so he had to write that famous letter to the Ephesians we see in the Bible.  He was speaking to the Ephesians about there being only one God and the people there worshipped lots of gods -- which meant that merchants there were selling thousands of statues and stuff to the residents.  This city, after all, had 250-300,000 residents!!  And that meant a lot of goats were sacrificed, and candles were burned and multiple statues were sold to residents who needed some special thing, like to help with childbirth or next year’s harvest or who knows.  So those darn ol’ merchants did NOT want Paul to kill their businesses.  Makes sense to me! 

Anyway, the site of ancient Ephesus is a marvelously restored open air museum.  You can see the two story library, the third biggest in the ancient world.  And there is a footprint outside the library pointing to a house of ill repute across the street -- that had a tunnel from the library to the house!  “My dear, I am just going to the library for a little reading,” says an errant husband, who promptly uses the tunnel for his nefarious visit to the prostitutes!

We see here on the marble streets little holes, which were used for carts and horses, so they didn’t slip down the steep street, but could get a grip.  And we saw 2 amphitheaters, one which help 25,000 people at once and featured gladiators, horse races, etc.  AND we saw the huge toilet room, which included 42 holes to do your job in.  Running water ran under the seats and a little bit of water ran in front as well.  And, not to get too graphic, but they used sticks to wipe themselves.  Hence, the saying:” Don’t get the wrong end of the stick!”  In the middle was a huge pool for people to bath.  While  they don’t know for sure, they think this area might have been used by both men and women, as the ROmans were not noted for modesty!

The marble streets were lined with shops where all sorts of goods were sold.  And they have started renovating terrace houses where the rich people lived.  Were there bathrooms in these houses?  Natural question.  Yes, also here.  But the houses at Pompeii were much easier to see and envision life during Roman times.

The question comes:  Why did such a large city die?  Well, it was a port city and had lots of ships coming into the port back then.  But, as time went on, the port silted up.  And each time they moved the port, it silted again.  And, surprise of surprises, the Romans couldn’t figure out how to dredge the harbors back them . Who says they were such good engineers??!!  Also true outside Rome in Ostia Antica, which also died for lack of dredging!

Oh-- Part 3 on the Turkish-Greek argument.  Our guide this morning said:  “If we are such bad people, why did we allow the Greeks to keep their own language rather than make them speak Turkish -- and why did we allow them to be Christian rather than Muslim?”   

And on to Crete tomorrow and then Cairo for two days!!