Travel Following the footsteps of Antony & Cleopatra The world’s best-preserved ancient city is only about four kilometres from the carpet co-operative and a 20-minute drive north of Kuşadasi. “Ephesus is at least 8,000 years old,” said Dilek. “It has been rebuilt a minimumof three times. We are visiting the third Ephesus, which was founded in the fourth century BC and lasted until the 14th century AD.” Listed by UNESCO in 2015, Ephesus exudes history. We walked on the same marble streets walked by Alexander the Great, Antony and Cleopatra, Roman emperors, St. John and St. Paul. Archaeologists began excavations in 1857. To date, they’ve unearthed remnants of marketplaces, public and private buildings, monuments and temples. We followed Curetes Street from the Upper Gate to the Lower Gate. The Odeon Theatre punctuates the marble statues and broken columns lining the street. Built in the second century AD, the venue for meetings and concerts had seating for 1,500 people. “Ephesus once had an amazing harbour,” said Dilek. “Over the years it silted in, so the city is now seven kilometres from the sea.” As we viewed terra cotta tiles that were at least 1,800 years old, she explained: “They carried water from cisterns and aqueducts to homes, fountains and bathhouses which were heated by wood furnaces stoked by slaves.” Clay pipes conducted grey water from the baths to the public latrine built in the first century AD. “Users paid to use the toilets, but they had zero privacy,” said Dilek as she showed us the holes in the marble benches lining two walls. “Patrons sat side by side and socialized here, discussing politics, religion and current events. Constantly flowing water flushed the toilets from the channel below to the sewer system.” The expertise of the early-day engineers impressed us. Dilek pointed out a beautiful mosaic street, once bordered by colonnades. “Wealthy Ephesians lived in homes above it Odeon Theatre First-century AD public latrine 20 | www.snowbirds.org
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