Tours to Ephesus
There are many tours to Ephesus that can be booked prior to leaving for your trip. However, it is important to select a great guide in order to learn more about this part of the world.
Those that wander through ruins without knowing why they are there tend to become bored easily. This is in stark contrast to those that have read their history books concerning an area of the globe. Some will easily be able to envision great battles and greater monuments, while others may only see a pile of rubble. In order to help you gain a mental picture of Ephesus, this article will provide a bit of a historical background concerning the land. The best tours to Ephesus begin with a guide that dwells upon the time period that belonged to Alexander the Great.
Steeped in myth and legend, Alexander the Great was one man that stood his ground against great Persian forces. Joined by many that were loyal to him, Alexander was able to defeat those Persian soldiers that had conquered Ephesus during the Battle of Granicus in 334 BC. Once Alexander was successful, the Greek cities within Asia Minor were liberated. Once Alexander had freed those Greek cities, he strode into Ephesus where he was warmly welcomed. Upon seeing that the temple of Artemis was not finished, Alexander told the townspeople that he wished to fund the project.
The townspeople believed that Alexander was a god, thus they forbid him to build a temple (one god cannot build something for another god.). Alexander left the project alone, spent his days battling, and upon his death in 323 BC, Ephesus was ruled by Lysimachus (a general). Eventually, the city became the property of Rome, and it enjoy a prosperous time under Roman rule until it was destroyed by the Goths in 263. Those that book tours to Ephesus will soon find out that the city itself is a large burial ground for some of those famous Roman gladiators that lost their lives fighting for entertainment within city walls.
This city is also very important when it comes to Christianity, since Paul spent over three years there. In fact, many believe that Paul wrote his gospel in the city. The church that rests inside of the city is a popular pilgrimage point for many Christians, and you can book Christian tours if this is of interest to you.
As you can see, the tours to Ephesus that you find will vary. Find a guide that will bring you through the city that you want to see most, and try to envision the many things that happened within those city walls so many years ago.