Ephesus was an ancient Greek city of Lydia, in Asia Minor, one of the twelve Ionian cities, on the south side of the Caystrus, near its mouth. It was at one time the grand emporium of Western Asia, having a convenient and spacious harbour. The apostle Paul visited Ephesus and established a Christian church there, to which he dedicated one of his epistles. It was famous for its temple of Artemis (Diana), called Artemision, the largest and most perfect model of Ionicarchitecture, and reckoned one of the seven wonders of the world. The first great temple, begun about 650 BC and finished after 120 years, was burnt by the notorious Herostratus in order to perpetuate his name in 356 BC (the night of Alexander the Great's birth). A second and more magnificent was then erected, which was burned by the Goths in 262. Some interesting remains were discovered by excavation during the 19th century. Several church councils were held here, especially the third ecumenical council of 431, at which Nestorius was condemned.
Abbreviations
Gazetteer
Research Ephesus
