Four Cultures in Asia Minor
 Ancient Greek
Look just to the left of the tree trunk on the right side of the picture. See that
single column? That's all that's left of the immense temple of Artemis, one of the seven
wonders of the ancient world. It was almost twice the size of the Parthenon
in Athens. A copy of it, dedicated to Apollo (Artemis' twin brother), was started at Didyma, but never finished.
Eastern Roman Empire
Just above the column, on the side of the hill, are the ruins of a basilica built by
the emperor Justinian dedicated to St John the Evangelist, who was said to have come to
live in Ephesus after the crucifixion of Christ.
Since he was the "beloved apostle" he was said to have brought the Virgin Mary
with him. Local legend holds that she lived out her life in Ephesus in this house, and is
believed to be buried somewhere nearby.
Byzantine
On the top of the hill stands the Ayasuluk fortress. Started during Roman times, it
became the center of the relocated town of Ephesus when the silting of the harbor and the
threat of malaria drove the inhabitants from the ancient site.
Seljuk Sultanate
Behind the trees on the right side of the picture is a Mosque built by the son of
Mehmet Bey in 1375
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