Ephesus: Long history attracts tourists in thousands

The ruins of Ephesus are a favouriteinternational and local tourist attraction and a sacred site, especially for Christians. It is a major site for Christians,because ofthe several Biblical figures associated with it and the relics of its long history. It is called the ruins of Ephesus, because that is what was left of it after […]

The ruins of Ephesus are a favouriteinternational and local tourist attraction and a sacred site, especially for Christians. It is a major site for Christians,because ofthe several Biblical figures associated with it and the relics of its long history. It is called the ruins of Ephesus, because that is what was left of it after an earthquake destroyed it in 614 AD.
Ephesus is home of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Artemis Temple. Among the most interesting tourist sites of Ephesus are the Ephesus Theatre and the Caves of the Seven Sleepers.
We embarked on a tour ofthe caves and the theatre was on a rainy day. The road trip was fascinating as it took us in wheels up a mountain. It is amazing how the Turks built a tarred accessroad on a mountain, many tourists wondered loudly. 
The guide advised us to tread cautiously as the road leading to the tourist sites are made of marble and so is slippery. With that mostof the tourists had to change their shoes, while others decided to stay back in the bus, as the tour began.
Ephesus Theatre
This theatre is an important site that is also mentioned in the New Testament book of The Acts of the Apostles. It is a sight to behold, the sense of history gripsyou as soon as you step in there, and the thought that you might be standing on a sites where great battles were fought by royals, instantly comes to mind. It is the most imposing and impressive structure in the city of Ephesus.
Tourists are ushered in through Marble Street, which was the main street in the ancient city, and is today the major entrance into the theatre, from the Library of Celsus. The street is so-called because uneven marble blocks were used when the four kilometre road, which was damaged several times in the course of history, was rebuilt in the 5th century.
The theatre built on the slopes of Mount Panayir, was constructed during the reign of Lysimachos, but was later altered many times. Like most other ancient theatres, the Ephesus Theatre consists of three main sections: the skene (stage building), the orchestra (place of action for the actors) and the caveat (auditorium), where the audience sit.  The theatre took 60 years to complete. It is the largest theatre in Asia Minor, with a capacity to accommodate 25,000 people, 24,000 sitting and 1000 standing.
The theatre is used not only for drama performances, but also for protests of social, political, economic and religious nature and for gladiator games as well. Among the most important of them is the conflict between Christians and the followers of Artemis, during which Saint Paul was judged and sent to prison after he was accused of hurting Artemis.
Performances are done during the day with an admission fee paid in coins. Tickets indicate where spectators sit.The theatre has 66 rows of stone seats,divided into three horizontal sections. The seats at the bottom of the cave, which have marble backrests, are reserved for the most important personalities of the city.
Its design, location and conception may have benefitted from Hellenistic influences, but its size and ornamentations are the products of Empirical Rome. The theatre was built at the end of the Hellenistic period, but it was significantly altered and enlarged by the Romans in the following five centuries. The theatre remained in use until it was destroyed by an earthquake in the 4th century and only a part of it was repaired. Despite the ruins, the theatre is home to great concerts and a huge tourist attraction. It has hostedsuch world famous artistes as Elton John, Mikis Theodorakis, John Baes, Ray Charles, Sting, Diana Ross and many more. Some Hollywood movies have also been shot there, guides tell tourists.
Tourists are left dazed, wondering how everything about the theatre is all marble, and even more confounded when the tour guide saysit was built more than 2000 years ago.
Cave of the Seven Sleepers
The story of the Seven Sleepers is known in both the Islam and Christianity. History has it that the seven sleepers were Christians who had to hide in a cave during the reign of Roman Emperor Decius, to escape persecution. There is also another version which says they were sentenced to death by Decius as a punishment for being Christians. Whatever the true story is, both versions agree that the seven sleepers slept in caves near Ephesus for centuries.
When the sleepers woke up one day, they had no idea they had slept for that long. When they sent out one of them to buy food, the coins he had were out of circulation for long and that drew the attention of the town’s people. After the story was widely known, the sleepers died.
The Qur’an also mentions a dog among the sleepers, in the 18th verse of the 18th chapter, Surah Al Kahf. The site is a bit off a beaten track, but it is still visited by many pilgrims and tourists. There is a small restaurant nearby. We noticed a considerable number of dogs around the caves and the guide advised that we walked pass them without trying to draw their attention. We instantly obliged and moved on.
At the restaurant, delicacies from the medieval era are prepared and served to tourists depending on your pick. The delicacies are said to be preserved despite changes in life style, but the food has not changed.
“We cannot afford to have everything changed; we still have history here, so the food is one of the symbolic histories of Ephesus. Here, you are assured that you get what the apostles of Christ and Mother Mary ate in their life time,’’ said a lady chef.
The legend of the Seven Sleepers has several parallels throughout literature. The cave has become a highly venerated site and a major place of pilgrimage for many.  After a six hour tour of the ancient city of Ephesus of which the theatre and the cave elicited the most emotion from tourists, we are treated to more than 15 kinds of ancient Turkish delights.
“It is great to see that people still respect history and treasure it. I wish and hope Nigeria can take a cue from Turkey when it comes to maintaining its cultural heritage. I am blessed to have been privileged to see the house of Mother Mary, the ruins of Ephesus and the caves of the Seven Sleepers. All these are mentioned in the Bible; and now more than ever, I believe in the word of our creator, that we are all one in His sight,” Apostle (Dr) Carol Oby Okafor, a Nigerian tourist and pilgrim says.