DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4615#0017
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF EPHESUS. I.-,
Croesus did not long enjoy his new dominion. Before
the expiration of three years, the Ephesians rebelled
against him, and Aristarchus, an Athenian, was chosen
to supplant him. Aristarchus, as tyrant, ruled for five
years, and his justice and discretion appears [to have
succeeded in winning the confidence and affection of the
people.
And now for more than two centuries, from the year
548 B.C. to the time of Alexander the Great B.C. 355-323,
Ephesus was subject to, and paid tribute to Persia
under Cyrus, Cambyses, Darius, Xerxes, Darius II,
Artaxerxes II and III, and Darius III—at the death of
whom the extinction of Persian Empire was accom-
plished. During this period the form of government
repeatedly changed, and Ephesus was ruled successively
by tyrants, oligarchies, and republics.
It was during these times of constant disquietude for
Ephesus that the arts of Greece attained to their highest
perfection, and it was within this short period of little
more than two centuries that the great temple of Diana
was three times built upon the same site, and, as has
now been ascertained, of the same grandeur, if not
magnificence.
Philip of Macedon and Alexander the Great succes-
sively exerted themselves to free the Ionian cities of
Asia from the Persian yoke ; in this the latter succeeded.
After the death of Alexander, B.C. 323, Ephesus was
taken by Antigonus, who put garrisons into this and
other cities of Asia Minor.
Ephesus was now governed by an oligarchy, who
opened the gates of the city to Lysimachus, in whose
time the ancient walls, now to be seen at Ephesus, are
Croesus did not long enjoy his new dominion. Before
the expiration of three years, the Ephesians rebelled
against him, and Aristarchus, an Athenian, was chosen
to supplant him. Aristarchus, as tyrant, ruled for five
years, and his justice and discretion appears [to have
succeeded in winning the confidence and affection of the
people.
And now for more than two centuries, from the year
548 B.C. to the time of Alexander the Great B.C. 355-323,
Ephesus was subject to, and paid tribute to Persia
under Cyrus, Cambyses, Darius, Xerxes, Darius II,
Artaxerxes II and III, and Darius III—at the death of
whom the extinction of Persian Empire was accom-
plished. During this period the form of government
repeatedly changed, and Ephesus was ruled successively
by tyrants, oligarchies, and republics.
It was during these times of constant disquietude for
Ephesus that the arts of Greece attained to their highest
perfection, and it was within this short period of little
more than two centuries that the great temple of Diana
was three times built upon the same site, and, as has
now been ascertained, of the same grandeur, if not
magnificence.
Philip of Macedon and Alexander the Great succes-
sively exerted themselves to free the Ionian cities of
Asia from the Persian yoke ; in this the latter succeeded.
After the death of Alexander, B.C. 323, Ephesus was
taken by Antigonus, who put garrisons into this and
other cities of Asia Minor.
Ephesus was now governed by an oligarchy, who
opened the gates of the city to Lysimachus, in whose
time the ancient walls, now to be seen at Ephesus, are