Ephesus, Turkey

Ephesus

Turkey
Size: 301,381 square miles
Population: 58,580,000
Capital: Ankara

Ephesus temporarily replaced Smyrna as the commercial capital of Asia Minor (Turkey) until its river port silted up in the 3rd century. The cult of Artemis was also based here and the Temple of Artemis (several times larger than the Parthenon) was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

The ruins in Ephesus are some of the most extensively excavated and still only a small portion has been restored. One of the most impressive ruins is the Library of Celsus at the foot of the main street.