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| In the hot Turkish sun, this marble base provided a good place to lean and pose for a picture! |
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| This pillar actually is curved forward. They were exacting masons. |
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| A view down the pillar-lined main street of Ephesus. | The stunning building at the foot of the hill is the Celsus Library |
We were not allowed to go into the Terrace Houses. BUT Elizabeth Gentry, one of the teachers on the trip, told the archeological workers about her time studying archeology in Turkey and they let her into that part of the site. You can view a slideshow of her pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/12866649@N00/sets/72157630852001606/show/with/7685890128/
Wikipedia provides the following information about the construction of "Justinian's Church
Little is known about the Basilica of St. John, with its only source being from a small description[3] provided by Procopius in one of his works,Buildings, whereupon he writes:
- There chanced to be a certain place before the city of Ephesus, lying on a steep slope hilly and bare of soil and incapable of producing crops, even should one attempt to cultivate them, but altogether hard and rough. On that site the natives had set up a church in early times to the Apostle John; this Apostle has been named “the Theologian,” because the nature of God was described by him in a manner beyond the unaided power of man. This church, which was small and in a ruined condition because of its great age, the Emperor Justinian tore down to the ground and replaced by a church so large and beautiful, that, to speak briefly, it resembles very closely in all respects, and is a rival to, the shrine which is dedicated to all the Apostles in the imperial city…[4]
Construction of the church began in about 536 and was dedicated on the eve of the feast day of the Princes of the Apostles on June 28 550 and completed in 565.[3] The building of this church was presided over by the bishop, Hypatius of Ephesus. As the leading ecclesiastical theoretician and writer of his day, it was possible that he gained the influence of Justinian and had the tomb of St. John reconstructed, as major construction in the Asia Minor was rare.[5] After its completion, it was regarded as one of the holiest church of its time and was held in great honor as Procopius makes mention of this in his Secret History:
- …to the sanctuary of the Apostle John, which was the most holy one there and held in very high honour...[6]
Despite its popularity after the ninth century it was no longer mentioned, possibly due to a new church built in honor of St. John, Church of John the Theologian.[7]"
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