Ephesus!

The best of the seven churches sites was definitely saved for last! Ephesus is a MASSIVE site that is absolutely amazing! And apparently the word has gotten out because the site gets an average of 10,000 visitors a day! And the day we were there... even more as there were numerous cruise boats at shore! I sort of liked it though... it was a busy place back in the day. That meant we got an accurate feel for the place!

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"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: 'The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.

"'I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this you have: you hate the works ofthe Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.'

Revelation 2:1-7

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I figure we should start off with the silly stuff so as to end this post with the proper amount or respect that this site is due...

Just before entering Ephesus, you can purchase some genuine fake watches!

Can we get some privacy please!! Goodness, can't anyone inappropriately pose on an ancient Roman toilet without everyone climbing all over the toilet next to us?!?! It's just common decency!

Now, the silly stuff is done... we just had to get that out of our system! No pun intended.

The ruins of the closer building is where a temple stood where the priests who worshiped silver false gods worked and is presumably where the uprising against Paul mention in Acts 19 began. This theory is given more credence by the building next to it... a city building where the city clerk who quieted the crowd would have worked and thus seen the riot start and been able to make it to the theater in time to quiet the crowd.

This is Nike... the goddess of victory. Our guide said that the "swoosh" comes from the wings and I overheard another guide saying that the "swoosh" comes from the flowing garment to the left. What do you think? :O)

Paul walked here! There really isn't much doubt actually. This was the main road where all the shopping took place so it is extremely likely that we are stepping at least close to where Paul walked!

The Library of Celsus. It is built over his grave actually...

And last, but not least... the pizza pie! These are etched into the streets everywhere. Our guide explained that this was an ancient underground Christian symbol as in it you can make all of the Greek characters above it. I can show you some time if you'd like.

The acronym stands for "Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior!"