DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4615#0019
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF EPHESUS. I?
never ceased to attract multitudes from all parts, many
of whom remained to benefit themselves by her com-
merce as well as to worship at the shrine of the goddess.
The Romans now determined to possess themselves
of this beautiful city, but the Ephesians struggled ob-
stinately for their independence, and revolted in favour
of Mithridates. They were, however, eventually subdued
by the Romans under Antony, B.C. 41.
The luxurious life led by Antony at Ephesus, where
he was joined by Cleopatra, must have retarded for a
few years the prosperity of the city, but with the peace
she enjoyed in common with other cities of Asia Minor
under the Roman Empire, her commerce and riches
must have increased, in spite of the heavy tribute she
had to pay to her new masters. Caesar Augustus, in
addition to restricting the limits of the sacred precinct
of the temple, no doubt commenced large public
buildings, many of which were probably completed by
Tiberius Caesar after the severe earthquakes which de-
stroyed so many cities in his time. In the time of the
Csesars all the public buildings, including the theatres
and gymnasia, must have been erected, the foundations
of some of the ancient Greek structures being allowed
to remain wherever they could be utilized —but the
small amount of Greek masonry found in excavations
in the city proves how the Romans destroyed the works
of other hands than their own.
Christianity had amongst its earliest and most earnest
followers many of the inhabitants of Ephesus, and the
success of St. Paul's teaching and preaching is proved
by the disturbance which was promoted in the interests
of Demetrius and the other shrine-makers for the
B
never ceased to attract multitudes from all parts, many
of whom remained to benefit themselves by her com-
merce as well as to worship at the shrine of the goddess.
The Romans now determined to possess themselves
of this beautiful city, but the Ephesians struggled ob-
stinately for their independence, and revolted in favour
of Mithridates. They were, however, eventually subdued
by the Romans under Antony, B.C. 41.
The luxurious life led by Antony at Ephesus, where
he was joined by Cleopatra, must have retarded for a
few years the prosperity of the city, but with the peace
she enjoyed in common with other cities of Asia Minor
under the Roman Empire, her commerce and riches
must have increased, in spite of the heavy tribute she
had to pay to her new masters. Caesar Augustus, in
addition to restricting the limits of the sacred precinct
of the temple, no doubt commenced large public
buildings, many of which were probably completed by
Tiberius Caesar after the severe earthquakes which de-
stroyed so many cities in his time. In the time of the
Csesars all the public buildings, including the theatres
and gymnasia, must have been erected, the foundations
of some of the ancient Greek structures being allowed
to remain wherever they could be utilized —but the
small amount of Greek masonry found in excavations
in the city proves how the Romans destroyed the works
of other hands than their own.
Christianity had amongst its earliest and most earnest
followers many of the inhabitants of Ephesus, and the
success of St. Paul's teaching and preaching is proved
by the disturbance which was promoted in the interests
of Demetrius and the other shrine-makers for the
B