Wednesday, March 21, 2012

The Ruins

Justin and Sarah spent Monday exploring the ruins of Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis.  Looks like they had spectacular weather again.  Justin loves Greek history and mythology so this was very exciting for him. 

Odeion Gate

Justin & Sarah among the ruins

Justin at the Library of Celsus
  The Library of Celsus (below) was completed in 135 AD.  The library was built to store 12,000 scrolls and to serve as a monumental tomb for Celsus. Celsus, a Roman Senator, is buried in a sarcophagus beneath the library, in the main entrance which is both a crypt containing his sarcophagus and a sepulchral monument to him.
Library of Celsus
 Read about the Temple of Hadrian, below, HERE.  It was built before 138 AD and is one of the most beautiful and well-preserved structures in Ephesus.
Temple of Hadrian
Ephesus was famed for the Temple of Artemis (completed around 550 BC), one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. All that remains is this single column, below.

Justin at the Temple of Artemis Column
The photo below shows a moment that Sarah captured on video that I was hoping to share with you but I can't take the video off Facebook.  Justin is such a fun person to do things with.  He was in the center of the Odeion which is reminiscent of a coliseum or amphitheater and he boomed out this quote from Gladiator in his best Russell Crowe voice: "Are you not entertained?
Justin the Orator at the Odeion (Small Theater) @ 150 A.D
Leave it to Justin to pretend to try out the ancient public toilets of Ephesus. In 100 AD when they were built, there was an entrance fee to use them.  In the center, there is an uncovered pool and the toilets are aligned along the walls. The columns surrounding the pool supported a wooden ceiling. There was a drainage system under the toilets.

Ancient Public Toilets
This little kitty found a nice spot to perch.  I found a page HERE with images of the many cats that dwell amongst the ruins.
The Cats of Ephesus
They left Turkey at around 7:30 AM (Turkey time) Wednesday morning and are flying back to Zurich where they will board another plane which takes them to San Francisco.  They will fly to LAX and arrive tonight at about 10:15 PM.  Jeff and I will load up Sierra and Buddy in Justin's car and I'll follow Jeff to the airport and park somewhere near the airport so we don't have two cars trying to circle around LAX. After Jeff picks them up, they'll meet up with me so Jeff and I can go back home and they can drive to Orange County. They both have to work on Thursday!  The boundless energy of youth! 

6 comments:

  1. Great pictures! Justin is so funny. My son Andrew and our pastor both love the movie Gladiator. Pastor Jim even named his dog Maximus! I took Greek/Roman Mythology, Anthropology and Archaeology in college. I loved art history that started with prehistoric art. That was sooooo long ago.
    They are going to be so tired!

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  2. Work tomorrow? Oh man, boundless energy.
    What a fabulous trip. Justin is so much fun! Those photos of him are just great.
    I wonder if the cat meows with an Ephesian accent?
    Have a lovely and relaxing day.

    Hugs...

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  3. Hi Darylynn,
    I would of taken a few days off. I learned my lesson many years ago going back to work right after one of our cruises where we flew and cruised. I was dead at work so I now take at least one day off after any vacation but I know friends that do the same as Justin and Sarah and go right back. Great pictures of the ruins and the kitty looks well feed and very pretty. Have a great Thursday. Hugs, Dru

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  4. Fantastic photos and love Justin's enthusiasm. Thanks for sharing Darylynn. Have a lovely day ahead my friend. Hugs

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  5. Youth... I wish I remembered what it was like to have that energy. HUGs

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  6. Spectacular pictures! I second the motion: Youth! & their boundless energy! Wish I had some energy now. Hugz!!

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