Ephesus
Ephesus(see map: Greece and the Aegean world), city at the mouth of the river Caÿster on the west coast of Asia Minor, which rivalled and finally displaced Miletus, and owing to the silting up of both harbours since antiquity has itself been displaced by Izmir (Smyrna) as the seaport of the Maeander valley. Ephesus was founded by Ionian colonists led by Androclus son of Codrus. It had little maritime activity before Hellenistic times, was oligarchic in temper, and open to indigenous influences. The city maintained itself against the Cimmerians and also Lydia until its capture by Croesus, who contributed to the construction of the great temple of Artemis. Under Persia it shared the fortunes of the other coastal cities; it was a member of the Delian League, but revolted c.412 BC and sided with Sparta. The Archaic Artemisium, burnt down in 356...
[The entire page is 447 words long]
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
Oxford University Press Titles
