Ephesus, Peristyle House, a restored villa

The sun continues to rise and we start to feel the heat. It is late September and you can tell by this autumn day that any midsummer day would rival those 100 plus degree days in Texas.

During the Roman period Ephesus had a population of about two hundred thousand people. I remember from another journey that Tenochtitlan, the capital city of the Aztecs, had a population of about two hundred thousand prior to the conquest. Florence at the time, which was considered the thriving center of European Culture, had a population of only twenty thousand. Ephesus, like Tenochtitlan, was about ten times larger than Florence.

We follow he guide down the gravel spur. She mentions that the flat area across from the palace was  the agora (market place). It is not much to see. I do not even take a photo. Then a broad street lined with columns and paved with marble slabs captures our attention. It is amazing. The entire group stands agape. This is Curetes Street, which is the main avenue leading into the center of the city. We are eager to follow the lavish avenue, but our tour director stops us at the Peristyle House. At the time, it appeared to be another ruined Roman villa. Our eyes keep returning to the broad street paved in marble and lined with beautiful columns extending into the distance.

What our guide does not point out is that this ruin has been reconstructed. I suppose due to time restraints, she decided to bypass it. Later I learn it  is one of the most striking features of this ancient town. Much of the dwelling has been restored in all of its grandeur, including frescoed walls and lavish pools. I have pimped a photo from a guidebook that I purchased to show you. I have this realization about the Roman sets created by Hollywood in movies like "Spartacus or Cleopatra."; the sets are no exaggeration. Many of these homes must have resembled Hyatt hotel lobbies. The lesson here is to purchase the gift shop guidebook before the tour starts and make sure all the key points of interest are covered.

Interior reconstruction of Peristyle house.

The center atria of the house featured a water filled pool surrounded by various rooms. The pool must have cooled and moistened the hot summer air. Water was plentiful in Ephesus. Several fountains, baths, and latrines service the city. Homes of the very wealthy had private plumbing, which is an extravagance almost beyond belief.

The ornate corinthyian pillars, elegant arches, and intricate mosaics decorate the structure. Walls are covered with colorful frescos, often  illustrating myths. This is truly a residence in which a 20th century family could live in comfortably.

Ephesus Continued

We follow our tour guide down a narrow gravel path. Glimpses of the ancient metropolis come into view and we learn that Ephesus has had many transformations; initially it was Greek, then Hellenistic, then Roman, and finally Byzantine. During the Hellenistic period, that’s the period after Alexander(301-30 BC), the city flowered into a major center of commerce and culture. I am thinking it must have been similar to cities in our world like Taiwan or Singapore. We do not consider them as being world powers; yet, they have become huge centers of commerce featuring monumental architecture.

I raise my eyes from the gravel path and I am looking at a beautifully preserved amphitheater called the Odeon, which means that it is a small theater or concert hall. It held 1500 people. There is no system for water drainage and archeologists think it was a roofed structure. As with all of these ancient theaters, the acoustics are amazing. People conversing in center stage are easily heard the top row.

A few steps down the path we find the Prytaneion or the Palace of the Council. This was a complex of  buildings used for civic meetings and was the residence of the governing family. Because of its close proximity, I suspect that the Odeon may also have been used for voting and civic oratory.

The main structures of the Prytaneion consisted of a front garden and a walkway that led though the columns shown in the photo to the inner garden or atrium, which was an uncovered garden surrounded by rooms. I assume the  rooms, as with other Roman style homes, were used for meetings, cooking, sleeping, entertaining and eating. A few pillars and stones outlling the foundation are all that remain.

In this area two temples have also been uncovered beneath buildings constructed during the Byzantine era. The temples are dedicated to, guess who? If you said Artemis, you are right. It is not surprising that Christians would build over a pagan temple, but we should note that thousands of deities were worshiped in the ancient world. Wise rulers, like Xerxes, Alexander and Caesar knew toleration of religious beliefs defused insurgency. Well, that and decimating the population of any city that fostered an uprising. Insurgency was punished with slavery, torture,  and death, but different religious beliefs were generally well tolerated until the Christian era.

I find it ironic that the city thrived despite being occupied by Persians, Romans and Byzantines. It did not die until the ocean receded and it could no longer be used as a seaport. Instead of a harbor, a huge mucky swamp eventually extended in front of the city.

Ephesus, Part I

The Temple of Artemis

The harbor of Kusadasi is large, several cruise ships are docked on our pier. We exit the ship via the gangplank into a mist of warm morning air and follow the mob of people into the customs building for the cursory review of credentials needed to enter Turkey. The customs building is large with duty free shops and I make a note to pick up a couple liters of Bell’s Scotch on the way back. The local officials are geared up to handle the large crowds. We breeze through the procedure and emerge into a parking lot full of buses. Our tour bus is easily found and the guide patiently waits at the bus door. We hand her our passes and step up into the plush air conditioned coach, a brief head count and we are on our way.

The landscape is dry but not barren, trees and groves of trees are scattered about. There are large flat areas with plowed furrows. The guide explains that the harbor extended several miles inland during the classical period and we are driving across the ancient ocean floor. This is the same as Pompeii, which was a sea port in Roman times but is now seven miles or so inland. The climate was warmer in the ancient world; the ice cap was smaller and the seas were higher.

We continue on the bus. Soon hills rise around us and small mountains appear in the distance. The drive seems short, an hour or so and we are filing off the bus in front of the ancient site.

The guides tells us Ephesus was populated since Neolithic times, but did not become an Ionian city until the tenth century when it was settled by Athenian colonists. During the wars between Greece and Persia the city was an ally of Athens and became part of the Delian League. Because of its proximity to Perisa, Ephesus fell under Persian influence. When Alexander the Great conquered Persia, he was welcomed as a liberator in Ephesus and treated like a god.

The guide continues , but my mind reels. We will be walking down the same streets trod by Alexander the Great. She goes on to say that Anthony and Cleopatra made a stop here and that St. Paul and St. John lived in Ephesus. Then she offers a "side trip" to the home of the Virgin Mary. I am not an academic, but I have always had a strong interest in ancient history. How did the significance of this wondrous metropolis escaped me? 

The Temple of Artemis

In the ancient world Ephesus was known for a huge temple dedicated to the mother goddess, Artemis. It was considered one of the Seven Wonders of Ancient World. The worship of the mother figure, Artemis,  may go way back to the Neolithic era. The goddess was probably renamed Artemis by the Ionian Greeks that colonized the area. Sadly, today there is nothing left of the temple save one solitary column standing stoically in a grassy field.The original temple was wood and burned down just prior to Alexander's arrival. A new stone temple was under construction when he arrived  in about 334 BCE. The stone structure was destroyed by Goths in 263 AD. With the popularity of Christianity growing, the temple was never reconstructed after that. In its glory it had a base of 625ft x 220ft, was 60ft tall, and was supported by 120 giant columns. The new temple was in use  for nearly six hundred years. The famous figure of Artemis that was found  is shown above. Some say the bulbs on her chest are breasts; others see them as eggs, or even bull testicles.  She was considered the mother goddess responsible for fertility, bountiful harvests and plentiful hunting. Those are her hunting hounds at her feet.

Next;  Walking the streets as Alexander and Anthony did.

Fires of Belenus Reviewed in Renaissance Magazine

The following review will be published in the January 2009 Issue of Renaissance Magazine:


Fires of Belenusby William H. Russeth
ISBN: 978-1597057523
Wings ePress / 2007

Fires of Belenus is the debut historical novel of William H. Russeth and a remarkable tale of the ancient Celts. The novel stays very true to the nature of these complex and fascinating people, while still adding a sense of wonder.

The basic plot of Fires of Belenus involves a sword forged from metal taken from within a fallen meteorite that, according to prophecy, will forge the destiny of the world for generations to come. Everyone in the land wants control of this seemingly mystical blade, from the warrior chieftains to the numinous druids. It becomes the task of Eoan, a young man barely out of his childhood, to find the sword. To make matters even more desperate, he also has to save the girl he loves.

The world of the Celts can be quite harsh at times, and Russeth does not shy away from violence where it is necessary for characterization and plot. Not wanting to give away anything too important to the story, I can say that early in the book one of his druid characters has an encounter where he comes away a few bloody digits short. Yet, Russeth never uses violence simply to liven up a scene. Even though the novel takes place in a rather brutal era, the author seems to know just what a scene needs without going overboard and relying on violence to titillate the audience. Romance is integral to the tale and plays a large part in the book as well. Again, the author does a good job of weaving it into the narrative – it feels like a very natural part of the story and is never dull.

One of the greatest things about the novel, however, is how the subjects of druids are viewed by the populous and how their "magic" is handled. Russeth takes a very realistic approach to the subject and it comes across as very plausible. Readers will find quite a few surprises where the author takes an event or being that seems to be supernatural or otherworldly and explains the reality behind it. This melding of the magical into the real world is done quite well.

If you enjoy a great historical adventure story with characters that you care about and a good dose of romance added into the mix, then you should give Fires of Belenus a read. It is gripping and executed well. You won't be disappointed.

Jason M. Tucker, Renaissance Magazine, January 2009

Fires of Belenus Promotional Trailer

Listen to Fires of Belenus Excerpt

Listen to Free Excerpt and a Great Show

A chapter from my novel "Fires of Belenus" was selected and read on the British internet program the "Celtic Myth Pod Show".
The show is done live from, Eastbourne by the Sea. The reading is done by Gary Colcombe, moderator of the show. Gary is known for bringing Celtic tales and myths to your fireside in the finest bardic tradition. As story tellers go, there is none better.

The story appears in Summer Special part II and it is the second feature in the program. The narration has been enhanced with sound effects and music, a truly professional job. Tune in. Just click on the link below to the pod show's site. The show is available in every format available. Once you on the site it will lead you to the program.

http://www.celticmythpodshow.com/

Take Care
William Russeth
"Fires of Belenus" Wings-Press: http://www.wings-press.com/

For more information and excerpts visit my website:http://mysite.verizon.net/resr5omo/whrhomepage/

Review from Writers and Readers of Distinctive Fiction.
Title: Fires of Belenus 4/10/08Author: William H RussethGenre: Historical Adventure/RomanceLength: 377 PagesPublisher: Wings ePress (Dec 2007)

In Fires of Belenus, William H। Russeth pens an adventurous tale smartly written. You will shiver in the presence of Druids, cower before merciless warriors, and hope in the true spirit of one young man named Eoan. With a little romance to soften this ancient Celtic world, Mr. Russeth weaves a story that is not only entertaining, but surprising in its revealing and intriguing conclusion. I do so want to tell you the ending, but I must refrain. All I can say, is, read the book! You won’t be disappointed.

Reviewed by Lynda Coker, Writers and Readers of Distinctive Fiction