In the first century many Jews lived in Ephesus and gained influence and wealth there. The city of Ephesus is mentioned many times in the Holy Bible in the New Testament. Some speak of the city’s inhabitants as violent, malicious and wanton people, and that the promiscuous behavior in the temple was worse than the behavior of the animals. However, scholars say that the Ephesians had a very low moral level. There was even a temple dedicated to promoting the cult of the emperor. In times of Roman rule, the state religion was propagated in Ephesus in connection with the cult of Artemis. The arts and philosophy also developed in Ephesus, as there were schools of philosophy, theaters and libraries. In fact, this famous temple was at the same time a place of worship, a treasure house – a bank for deposits and loans of money -, and a museum, and at various times both the external and internal areas of the temple served as a refuge for people of bad temper, such as criminals, slave traders and even thieves take shelter. In fact, the religion in Ephesus employed a lot of people and fed the city’s economy – mainly with the manufacture of religious artifacts, in particular the sale of small silver models of the temple of the goddess Diana. The city was known not only for being an important economic center, but also for being a religious center of reference.
Ephesus’ most economically successful work was closely linked to his religious affairs. The city was an industrial center and its trade brought it many riches. Among them were Roman palaces, luxurious baths, a temple dedicated to the worship of the Roman emperor and the famous Celsus Library.Įphesus was a wealthy city with a thriving economy, which in the first century also served as an administrative center for the Roman government. The city of Ephesus also had other monumental buildings. The temple measured about three thousand five hundred square meters and had more than one hundred columns that reached approximately eighteen meters in height. The temple of the goddess Diana of Ephesus was considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. IGNORE our normal rates because they're being BLOWN AWAY for this special promotion!īut the building that made Ephesus widely known was its temple dedicated to the Greek goddess Artemis – the goddess Diana to the Romans. Tell the World about Your Company with ! All new customers get $130 Off the Newsmaker distribution. In the port of Ephesus arrived and departed the largest ships of the time. By sea, Ephesus had one of the most important ports of its time. By land, Ephesus was connected by good roads to the most important cities in Asia. The ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus are located in present-day Turkey, and are visited by tourists from all over the world. The city was even rebuilt, but in 614 AD an earthquake wreaked havoc on it. The city was eventually destroyed between 262 and 263 AD, including having its shop selling religious artifacts burned down. Due to its structure, importance and population, Ephesus became part of the Roman province, becoming the second largest city in the Roman Empire, second only to Rome. The city of Ephesus was located near the west coast of Asia Minor, in the Aegean Sea, at the mouth of the Cayster River. The city of Ephesus had more than three hundred thousand inhabitants – a true metropolis of its time. RELIGION: Ephesus was a very important city in biblical times! It was the capital of the Roman province of Asia and the largest commercial center in that region. Section A Front Page Main News Expand child menu Expand