Efes - Epheses

Epheses (Efes), the ancient coastal town on the west coast of Turkey - A really important place for both pageans and christians and the spot where the Romans landed when they took over Asia in 10b.c. I stayed in Selcuk , the nearest town to Epheses, at a place called Homeros Pension, a beautiful home stay in an amazingly kitch house (billi you would have LOVED it), little trinklets and antiques everywhere, typewriters as paperweights, old radios as wall hangings etc. I did the sights in Selcuk - the museum, one of the 7 wonders of the Ancient World The Temple of Artemis (the picture of the pillar, 12th down from the top is a shot of this sight), where you can see the remains of pagean times, in the background to the left an ancient christian church and to the right an ancient mosque - really interesting religious sight although not much remains of the original Temple of Artemis now except the one pillar which houses a huge Stork and its nest! The shots of the little girl wearing green jumper were taken at this sight, she was about 5 years old and selling postcards, was soo cheeky and loved having her photo taken. She was speaking to her near by 25 year old cousin in Turkish, and a man nearby translated to us that she was telling him "fuck off, youre gay" ... she was very cute and hard not to love - she reminded me of Fern when she was little - just a bit bored and needed a challenge I think! Her family is hopeful that once she starts school that she might pull her head in a bit and not be so bored. Hilarious kid - hence all the shots!

The last three shots are from the Museum. The last shot, the one of the head in the glass box is the Greek God of Love, Eros, from 2ndb.c. The shot of the stone slab just above that one is a depiction of the all-female nation of warriors from 2nd century b.c The Amazons, who faught through the Roman empire period. The amazon women would remove one of their breasts so that they would be as good, or better archers than they men - normally their left breast was in the way for Archery, they were a force to be reckoned with! The shot of the glass coloured bottles is from the 3b.c, they are tear catchers. Men would leave them with their wives when they went away to fight, and would return to inspect how much they were missed judged on the amount of tears in the bottles - I asked a nearby male tour guide if the men back then needed the tear catchers to prove their worth in the world, and that maybe men were the same today, needing to constantly have their ego's fluffed - he muttered something in Turkish which Im sure was really friendly and helpful (or perhaps not). I muttered, 'I doubt the Amazon women felt the need to leave tear catchers with their loved ones".

Last main sight in this area was Epheses - the amazing ruins. The first 6 shots Ive put up are from this sight. Two of the theatre, built to seat 25,000 people (I particularlly like the shot of the one with the crane - I was initially pissed off that it was in the way of my shot, then realised the irony of something so modern being in the same spot as something ancient, and built with bare hands and hand made tools). In 1B.C, Epheses was the 2nd largest city in the world, after Rome, and an incredibly important place historically for the Greeks, Romans and Classical periods, also important in Christian history - Apostle Paul live here in the 50's A.D and built a congregation, and wrote the book of Corinthians 1 here. The book of John was also written here and it was one of the 7 cities mentioned in the book of Revelation. Only 15% of the remains of Epheses have been excavated here, which is absolutely fucking amazing since the sights are HUGE ... among the most impressive is the Library of Celsus which I have attached pictures of (the top four shots), it is amazing to think that a building THAT old could remain with a 2nd story on top of it. It was built facing east so as to make most of the morning sun. Really beautiful.

So the rest of the photos I havent already spoken about - one of me taking a quiet morning exercise outside the Temple of Artemis, one of a Turkish woman in a little side street looking out the window, a typical Turkish Police Car and a local house which I thought was exceptionally cute, and three shots of a storks nest on the main street which I really loved, they build them on top of telegraph poles too.

Feeling pretty ruined out now though - pretty sure Ive seen enough fucking ruins for this trip. In fact, Ive gotten bored of Turkey in general I think ... its very westernised and European, although very pretty and rich in history, its also .... boring. I think my India crush is the problem perhaps.