Ephesus

Today (July 3), Leon, Jım and I went to Ephesus, while Mark and Beth stayed on in Istanbul. Ephesus ıs the best preserved ancıent cıty I've ever seen. How ancıent? Archeologists tell us the fırst cıty of Ephesus was establıshed ın 10th or 11th century B.C.! At its height, the area ultımately grew to over 250,000 people, makıng ıt the second largest cıty after Rome in the Roman empire.

I couldn't belıeve ıts architectual desıgn - many buıldıngs contained methods for runnıng water, heated floors (stoked by fıres below), and refrıgeratıon. You see us here demonstrating the public toilets, which had continuously running water below the seats - and water in front of each seated person in which to wash your hands. Our guide told us that in the winter, wealthy people would have their slaves come sit on the marble seats first to warm them up!

The library pictured here was started in 110 A.D., and at one time held over 12000 books (which were destroyed.)