Places

Ephesus

Ephesus (Efes), Türkiye, March 1994

We wandered the site of this ancient city with full access on a single antiquities ticket. Agora, library, amphitheater, temples, brothel, even the latrines.

There were few other people around; we nearly had the place to ourselves. It was the off-season and 30 years ago.

I fear visiting now you would have to contend with throngs coming off the massive cruise ships that ply the eastern Aegean Sea.

The Library of Celsus was one of the great libraries of the ancient world. Construction was commissioned around the year 110 CE. You stand only in wonder gazing at the facade, and with horror at the thought of its gradual destruction.