|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Travel Ephesus |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Around Ephesus |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Church of Saint
John |
|
| |
|
|
| |
 St.
John lived here with the Virgin Mary after being
cast out of Jerusalem in 37-42 A.D. according to
legend, and it is thought to be here that St.John
wrote his gospel, and was buried in the church
bearing his name in accordance with his dying
wishes. A wooden basilica was first constructed on
the site, above his grave, in the 4th century A.D.,
which was replaced in the 5th century by the present
church, built during the reign of the Byzantine
emperor, Justinian (577-565 A.D.).
During the 7th and 8th centuries, Ephesus was
under constant siege by the Arabs, when the church
was surrounded by a wall, which varied in structure
over the years, but possessed 20 towers and three
gates. The grand portal is the gate now used by
visitors. The two other gates are to the east and
west. The walls were built with stones taken from
the Gymnasium of Ephesus, as if in revenge for the
Christians thrown to the lions in that stadium
during the first years of Christianity. The Church
is entered via the main portal dating to the 6th
century, which consists of an arched entrance
flanked by two towers, leading to a small atrium
where one may see inscriptions related to the
Church, which were uncovered there during
excavations. This atrium, which measures 34x47 m. is
on the western front, and consists of a central
court surrounded by an arched portico with a
balustraded gallery to "the exterior. A number of
amphora dating from various periods are to be seen
in the centre of the court. A three celled cistern
is buried below the western portal, and covered with
a vault. This is buttressed with flanking walls to
compensate for the curve of the site.
Between the atrium and the nave of the church is a
long narrow narthex. Massive lentils of dressed
marble frame the three doors leading to the atrium
and into the nave from the narthex. A wall and a
number of portals were added between the atrium and
the narthex at a later date, to create an
exonarthex. Five cupola surmount the narthex itself.
The main church is cruciform in plan, a classic plan
with three naves, and a superstructure of six, large
domes over the main nave, with vaulted flanking
naves. The domes were originally supported by marble
and brickbond piers, still partially in situ, with a
row of blue-veined marble columns lining the Church
between the naves. The monograms of Theodora, wife
of Justinian, are engraved on these columns, which
enables us to date the structure. The above
mentioned rows of Columns are joined by a series of
arches which in turn support a second row of arches
at gallery level. The mausoleum chamber is situated
before the apse in the central nave, and is marked
out by being raised from the rest of the nave, with
two steps between.
A chapel, originally part of the treasury in the
court, was converted for devotional use in the 10th
century. The frescos of St. John, Christ and other
sacred figures are contained in the apse. The
treasury is reached via a gate immediately before
it. This is a centrally-planned chamber, 6.30 m. in
diameter, fronted by an absidal vaulted hall and
flanked by a chapel. The main chamber is sub-divided
by a cruciform plan, into a series of cells, each
containing vaulted niches. It is a two-course
building surmounted originally by a dome, now in
ruins. The baptistery is reached via a portal
letting into the forehall of the treasury. It is
connected to the Church via a long narrow corridor
running parallel to the northern nave. The baptismal
pool dates to the 6th century, and was originally a
tomb.
The plan of the Baptistery is somewhat complex.
The main chamber is octagonal in plan, and is framed
by a narrow corridor and flanked on two sides by
absidal-planned halls. The main baptistery is paved
with marble, with the pool in the centre. The
baptistery predates the Justinian church, being
built in the 5th century. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Ephesus Yesterday & Today |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
)
