The Meaning of Ephesus
From the Hittite "Apasa" to an Amazon queen — where the name of the great city actually comes from.

The stories behind the stones — written by guides who have answered every question a traveler can ask.
From the Hittite "Apasa" to an Amazon queen — where the name of the great city actually comes from.
Selcuk, the market town beside the ruins — traditional quarters, Ayasuluk Hill, storks on the aqueduct and a 12 km beach.
Goths, earthquakes, emperors and relentless silt — the thousand-year decline of the Aegean's greatest city.
Every key date from the founding legends to the Gothic sack — the city's three millennia at a glance.
Josephus, Roman Sabbath decrees and a menorah on the library steps — the evidence for Jewish life in ancient Ephesus.
Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict XVI each prayed at the House of Virgin Mary — the story of the papal pilgrimages.
The congregation Paul founded, the "first love" letter of Revelation, and the Double Church where a council changed Christianity.
Pavarotti, Sting, Elton John and Ray Charles have all played the ancient theater — Ephesus's stages never really closed.
Which sites charge, which are free, and how to plan your ticket budget — updated local advice.
The city's layout explained: two gates, the great marble street, and the walking strategy locals swear by.

Everything in these articles comes alive on tour. Ask us anything as we walk.