Ephesus
(Desired One)
Background
Ephesus was
a large and important city on the west coast of Asia Minor where the apostle
Paul founded a church.
Situated at
the mouth of the river Cayster, Ephesus was the most favorable seaport in the
province of Asia and the most important trade center west of Tarsus. Although
Pergamum was the capital of the province of Asia in Roman times, Ephesus was
the largest city in the province, having a population of perhaps 250,000 to 500,000
people. Ephesus contained a theatre that seated an estimated 25,000 people. The
temple of Artemis (or Diana, her Roman name) at Ephesus ranked as one of the
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. As the twin sister of Apollo and the
daughter of Zeus, Artemis was known variously as the moon goddess, the goddess
of hunting, and the patroness of young girls. The temple at Ephesus housed the
image of Artemis that was reputed to have come directly from Zeus (Acts 19:35).
The temple
of Artemis in Paul’s day was supported by 127 columns, each of them 197 feet
high. These were six feet in diameter and 36 of them were sculptured at the
base with life-sized figures. The temple platform was 239 feet wide and 418
feet long. A flight of ten steps led up to the pavement of the platform. The
temple itself was 180 feet wide and 377 feet long.
The worship
of Artemis was unspeakably vile. Her idol was a many-breasted monstrosity,
popularly believed to have fallen from heaven. The temple was attended by
numerous priests, eunuchs, and slaves. Thousands of priestesses, who were
little more than ritual prostitutes, played a major role in the worship of
Artemis. The temple grounds were a chaotic cacophony of priests, prostitutes,
bankers, criminals, musicians, dancers, and frenzied, hysterical worshippers.
By the
middle of the third century signs of decay appeared in the city, and in A.D.
263, Goths raided Ephesus and dealt it a blow from which it never recovered. By
the tenth century, the prosperous city of Roman times was completely deserted
and invaded by marshes.
©2012 Kenute
P. Curry. All rights reserved.
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