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City of Ephesus. City of Ephesus. City of Ephesus Historical development Greek colony originally Called an emporion – “way in” for trade inland from the harbor there The first temple of Artimis destroyed 356 B.C., night Alexander the Great was born
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City of Ephesus • City of Ephesus • Historical development • Greek colony originally • Called an emporion – “way in” for trade inland from the harbor there • The first temple of Artimis destroyed 356 B.C., night Alexander the Great was born • Alexander Great contributed a great deal to building the new temple – 334 B.C. • Romans would control this area – 133 B.C. • By N.T. time the harbor had be silted up and no usable
City of Ephesus • City of Ephesus • Political and economic background • Foremost city in Asia Minor • Approximately 250,000 in population • Large trading center – three main roads brought trade • Free city • Panionian games
CITY OF EPHESUS Column lined road that led to the harbor (now 6 miles away)
City of Ephesus • City of Ephesus • Religiously • Center of the emperor cult • Temple of Artemis (Diana) • Patron Goddess of the city • One of the seven wonders of the world • Larger than Pantheon (largest Greek building) • About 360 feet long • The silversmiths made figures of Artemis and felt threatened by the new teaching about Christ.
Artemis (Roman – Diana) Artemis was also called Cynthia, from her birth place, Mount Cynthus in Delos. She was Apollo's twin sister, daughter of Zeus and Leto. She was one of the three maiden goddesses of Olympus: the pure maiden Vesta, gray-eyed Athena who cares but for war and the arts of the craftsmen, and Artemis, lover of woods and the wild chase over the mountain. She was the Lady of Wild Things, Huntsman-in-chief to the gods, an odd office for a woman. As a huntress her favorite animal was the stag, because its swiftness gave the best opportunity for her method of capture, which was by her silver bow and arrows and speed of foot.
Artemis (Roman – Diana) • Temple of Artemis • Two kilometers outside Ephesus • Largest marble temple ever built • Controlled financial affairs • Bank for wealthy • Invulnerability of attacks part of sacredness • Place of refuge and a school • Loaned money, collected taxes, owned land • Thirty ancient sites located but Ephesus central • Destroyed in A.D. 260 when Goths sacked Ephesus
Temple of Artemis “Ornament of the whole Province of Asia”
Statue of Artemis – Nature Goddess Nature goddess associated with carnal fertility rituals, orgiastic rites and religious prostitution Artimis cult was associated a meteoric stone, the “image which fell down from Jupiter.”
City of Ephesus • New Testament background • Paul visited on 2nd missionary journey • Left Aquila and Priscilla in Ephesus • They taught Apollos • Third missionary journey, Paul stayed over two years • Gospel spread throughout Asia Minor (Acts 19:10) • Paul had a close relationship with Christian leaders their (20:17-38) • Timothy left in Ephesus by Paul (2 Tim.) • Ephesus mentioned in Rev. 2
Ephesus: Theater Paul “fought with beasts at Ephesus” (1 Cor. 15:32)
