The site at Ephesus has changed several times during the course of its long history. It started with the Ionians in the tenth century BC... Get that? 3000 years ago, hard to comprehend.
Ephesus is the most extensive and best preserved ancient city in Turkey. The Ionians, Greeks, Romans and Byzantians all left their marks. The most evident when you walk the city is the Roman occupation period.
Temples, gates, long marble floor walkways, two theatres, a latrina, an incredible library building, and public bath are all there.
I also toured the Ephesus museum nearby which houses many objects from excavations on the site.
Within the site a separate huge covered enclosure houses some of the best-preserved evidence of Roman daily life. The houses were equipped with central heating and hot-water taps, while the walls and floors were adorned with exquisite mosaics and frescoes. These were the houses of the wealthy.
I got a kick out of finding a pile of clay pipe sections - 2000 year old water pipe!
During the height of the Roman Empire from about 25BC to 200AD, Ephesus became capital of the province of Asia. Roman town planning was similar to that of their Greek predecessors, but the Romans really liked the colonnaded streets. I wish I could show you more pictures. :(
