EPHESUS AGAIN

OCT 26

On our way to Pamukkale, we get to see Ephesus again. There is always more to see. And I cannot get enough of the library.


This stone is a billboard for the whorehouse near the library. It says that if you want love (see heart) go straight ahead and to the left (the left footprint) and you will find the lady shown. The first use of a sign for advertising.

I still cannot get over the size of this theatre. This visit Duane sang by himself, same wonderful song, 'Let there be peace on Earth'

This time we went into the terrace houses. They are covered and are still being excavated so we paid an extra fee for them. We think it was worth it. There were rows of houses built up this hillside in a terrace fashion. Rich politicians lived there for the views.

Instead of carpeting they covered their floors with mosaics. Some like these are elaborate and they have survived in great shape for thousands of years.

Some of the houses had elaborate courtyards with columns and fountains

On the walls of these homes were murals used like we use wallpaper. They even redecorated by platering over old murals and adding new ones. They could do this up to 3 times, so if you bought a house from someone and they had already had 3 murals, you were stuck with what you got. This man supported the arts since he had all 12 muses painted on his walls.

Another fascinating thing was the marble walls in the houses. It turns out that they are a thin veneer. First issue, how did they make such thin sheets of marble? How did they get them to adhere so well? It is amazing how the archeologists can put the jigsaw puzzles together.

This time we went to the museum. There are tons of statues and friezes and pottery. These two were of particular interest. The first is the goddess of fertility. She came after the next picture.

This is the Mother Goddess. She precedes the thin goddess. Arleen wonders when they saw her watching TV and drew this sketch :)

Then we went to the final home the Virgin Mary. She is said to have lived here until her last dormition (her last sleep, since she did not die but assended into heaven) here, so needless to say, it is a very holy place.

Many people have left prayer rags.