the library at Ephesus

The library at Ephesus was probably the highlight of my walk down the marble streets through the ruins of this ancient Roman city. It was one of the largest libraries of the ancient world, designed by the Roman architect Vitruoya, containing between 12,000 and 15,000 scrolls.

Ephesus was a wealthy city with the large library seen above, a large amphitheater, and much ornate statuary. There is a special exhibit (additional admission charge, but worth it) of excavated and partially restored Roman hill houses that is especially interesting. Here's a tip for seeing Ephesus: there are both upper and lower entrances to the city. By beginning your visit at the upper entrance, you get to walk downhill, not a bad idea for visitors in the hot summer sun.

Ephesus is a city of biblical significance. The apostle Paul was imprisoned in Ephesus and may have written some of his letters from that prison. The Epistle to the Ephesians, attributed to Paul, was an early letter sent to the church in Ephesus. Finally, Ephesus is one of the "seven churches of Asia" mentioned in the opening chapters of the Book of Revelation.

It is said that Turkey has more Roman ruins than Italy and more Greek ruins than Greece. It is a fascinating destination for lovers of ancient history.


library at Ephesus (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2007 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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