Team Update--by Ali
June 13, 2008
Just wanted to update you on what we are doing now. We are having a blast on vacation! :) Yesterday we visited Miletus and saw the harbor where Paul possibly stood. We also explored the ruins there. The area was silted by a nearby river and the ground is pretty marshy (lots of snakes).
But we were all very careful and no one even saw a snake...we did see a lizard though.
Today was definitely a highlight for me, and I’m sure for many others on the team as well—Ephesus! The city is amazing. Still only about 10% uncovered of the original city, that 10% is a wealth of archeological gold. There were statues, wells, temple entrances, many columns and pillars, the marble road, two fountains, and my favorite-the library. We took a team picture at the library to show you what studious travelers we are!
The library was...incredible...amazing...beautiful...stellar. Some of the columns display some ancient Greek writing that Ben and I were attempting to read...unfortunately we didn’t learn capital letters very well back in 1st and 2nd year Greek, so all we could really read and understand was “KAI” which means “and.” But it was cool reading that much!
After Ephesus we went over to the museum that houses a few of the smaller finds—some busts, hospital equipment, house decorations, statues (the one in the picture is Domitian). The story behind this statue is actually quite interesting. The people of Ephesus were put under his authority, but he was a malicious ruler and the people hated him. He commanded that they honor him by building something in the city and dedicating it to him. The people refused. Finally—after some arm twisting and a few deaths involved, the people built Domitian Square which was the resting place for this enormous statue. Because the people hated him so much, they depicted him as a very angry man, even going into the detail of putting some veins sticking out on his arm.
After the museum, we visited St. Jean’s Basilica, a very old, very cool church. After the basilica, we saw what was left of the largest of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World—Artemis’ Temple. All that is left is a column (which the archeologists piled up from several different columns) and a few stones sticking up out of the ground. But now we can say we’ve been there. :)
The team sends their love and thoughts to each family member and friend. We miss you, but no worries...we’ll be home in about 5 days!
Just wanted to update you on what we are doing now. We are having a blast on vacation! :) Yesterday we visited Miletus and saw the harbor where Paul possibly stood. We also explored the ruins there. The area was silted by a nearby river and the ground is pretty marshy (lots of snakes).
But we were all very careful and no one even saw a snake...we did see a lizard though.Today was definitely a highlight for me, and I’m sure for many others on the team as well—Ephesus! The city is amazing. Still only about 10% uncovered of the original city, that 10% is a wealth of archeological gold. There were statues, wells, temple entrances, many columns and pillars, the marble road, two fountains, and my favorite-the library. We took a team picture at the library to show you what studious travelers we are!
The library was...incredible...amazing...beautiful...stellar. Some of the columns display some ancient Greek writing that Ben and I were attempting to read...unfortunately we didn’t learn capital letters very well back in 1st and 2nd year Greek, so all we could really read and understand was “KAI” which means “and.” But it was cool reading that much!After Ephesus we went over to the museum that houses a few of the smaller finds—some busts, hospital equipment, house decorations, statues (the one in the picture is Domitian). The story behind this statue is actually quite interesting. The people of Ephesus were put under his authority, but he was a malicious ruler and the people hated him. He commanded that they honor him by building something in the city and dedicating it to him. The people refused. Finally—after some arm twisting and a few deaths involved, the people built Domitian Square which was the resting place for this enormous statue. Because the people hated him so much, they depicted him as a very angry man, even going into the detail of putting some veins sticking out on his arm.
After the museum, we visited St. Jean’s Basilica, a very old, very cool church. After the basilica, we saw what was left of the largest of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World—Artemis’ Temple. All that is left is a column (which the archeologists piled up from several different columns) and a few stones sticking up out of the ground. But now we can say we’ve been there. :)
The team sends their love and thoughts to each family member and friend. We miss you, but no worries...we’ll be home in about 5 days!
posted by Ali @ 11:05 AM
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