Pergamon

Early the next morning, we were on our way again! This time we headed to Pergamon, which is high up on a mountain and required a gondola ride after our bus took us as far as it could. 

We walked a little ways over to the site of the ruins, where the remains of once-magnificent buildings were scattered about. 

This is the city that Jesus calls the "throne of Satan," and many think that this is a reference to the worship of Asclepius, the god of healing, who used snakes in his ritual healing (our guide told us that the snakes were eaten alive). 

In antiquity, the mighty structures of this city could be seen from far down the mountain, and surely symbolized the power of those who ruled it. From the shrine to Asclepius to the Library of Pergamon, the Great Altar to Zeus to the theatre on the side of the mountain, the city must have been impressive. 

As I looked at this picture again (the one above), I thought,"Those columns don't look so stable!" I'm sure as these pieces are put together they are constructed and held together by rods and secured, but the height of these and others in the different areas we visited is stunning. 

What was high is now low, traces of greatness and beauty linger. 

Another humbling reminder...

Moving On

We left Ephesus to have lunch at an unusual dining spot. 

In this carpet-weaving oasis, the hosts served us a delicious lunch and then gave us a tour of their facility. 

There were several young ladies working there who demonstrated the unique Turkish carpet-weaving method.

Their fingers moved so quickly it was astonishing; I could have watched them for a long time. They plucked two strings from the loom and pulled them forward, then looped the colored string that would become part of the emerging pattern, pulled the ends down quickly, and cut them just as swiftly. 

In this open room where the ladies were working, silkworms were also living, doing their thing. 

The owner of the company then showed us how they took the silkworm cocoons...

and made thread from them.

After using a stiff brush that looked much like a barber's shaving brush to start the string pulling off of the cocoons, the lady showing us the method took her hand and wound it around the strings, continuing to pull until the beginnings of the strings were out of the way. Once there was a sufficient amount pulled from the cocoons (to get to the part they can use), they attached it to a machine that unwound it from the cocoons.

They also dyed their own thread.

Around every corner there were interesting tools...

and gorgeous colors.

These two gentlemen were hand-repairing rugs, which our guide told me was an extremely difficult task. 

I imagine this is true; it takes me years to sew a button onto Mike's shorts.

As I walked around, I felt like I was in a place from another time.

Soon we were shown into a room so that they could show off some of the best work of their ladies. The women who make the rugs live in towns around the area. 

I was particularly drawn to the rugs that featured orange. 

This next rug was so beautiful. We all gasped when they told us that what we were seeing was the back of the rug! 

I couldn't tell the front from the back, the work was so fine. 

After they showed us innumerable rugs, we had the opportunity to look at and purchase one. (I say we very generically speaking...these rugs were quite out of Mike's and my price range!) I loved the tour, though, and I have a much greater appreciation for the labor and skill that goes into these beautiful works of art.

Following this excursion we returned to our hotel for the evening. Dr. Wright continued his lectures, some of which I'll have to share soon. It was certainly an honor to sit under his teaching. 

Travel Back Two Thousand Years...

Our next stop the following day was the once-beautiful city of Ephesus. By this day, I was full-on tourist: I had my camera, my sunglasses, my bag, and my hat. And while cute sandals would have looked better, for a day of walking on dusty stone roads, my Converse had the job. 

We were told up front on a couple of occasions that the ruins were not as grand as we might have expected; sometimes there just wasn't much left. We appreciated the honesty...at every turn. 

Ephesus did not fall into the category of needing a warning regarding its lack of magnificence. This was an amazing site! I have many pictures that I think I will share some way or another, but too many to post them all here. 

As we walked down the main road, which used to be for chariots rather than people on foot, we encountered the remains of the pillars that lined the road (and upon which rested the roof for the walkway which ran alongside the main road). It made me giggle when I turned and saw the people collonade too. 

As we walked down the road, we saw to our right a long line of the ruins of many buildings, some were temples, some were fountains, and there were the Roman baths and latrine.

 

Cozy. (Except for the marble seats...they sent their slaves in to warm them up first.)

Important figures were carved into stone and set high atop columns to show their significance. 

Here is the mosaic road that ran in front of the homes built along the way. The wealthier Ephesians lived there, and you cannot even believe what the homes were like until you have seen an example of one.

The highlight of the city is certainly the facade for the Celcus Library, which has been reconstructed. It is attached to the Gate of Augustus (to the right in this photo). 

This is Mike and I standing in the arch of the gate with the library behind us. 

We made our way over to the amphitheatre, which was kind of big. 

Haha! It was splendid! 

More pictures of Ephesus to come...it was captivating and impressive, something we'll not forget! 

From the City of Brotherly Love to Smyrna (Hey, and Now I'm in New Smyrna...Ha!)

Our first stop on our third full day was St. Jean Church in Philadelphia. 

This small area is the site of the ruins of a seventh-century church. 

Many headstones have been discovered there.

Mike was practicing his Greek with some of them. 

I really should have kept studying after I dropped out of seminary...one summer course and a semester don't get a person very far. 

After we left Philadelphia, we went to Sardis and saw the reconstructed Jewish synagogue and the gymnasium. 

The gymnasium was the larger structure, but the two were side by side.

I was fascinated by the mosaic floors. 

There were so many different patterns; it was like a giant patchwork quilt. 

At one end of the "building" is this altar type thing flanked by lions. (I think they are lions. They could totally be something else. I missed what our guide said because I was taking pictures. Mike got the info, I got the photos.)

It was impressive, to say the least. And this was only a small portion of what it used to be! 

The detail in the carvings is amazing. It is also amazing that those who work on excavating and reconstructing can do such a marvelous job. 

We also went to the site of the Temple of Artemis (Sardis). (She was rather ubiquitous, you know.)

Huge columns and pillars marked what was surely an eye-popping marvel in its day. 

And just as amazing is the tiny church just to the side of the huge columns. 

So little, and yet a sign of the Kingdom of God on earth. 

In the picture below, the church building is the small structure just to the right of the smaller pillars on the right and to the back. 

Again, the work that has been done is incredible. Archaeologists have this giant puzzle to solve; how painstakingly they must do their work! 

And after a whirlwind day, we made our way by bus to the last hotel we would stay in before boarding the ship. Mike and I went for a walk down by the water near the hotel before dinner the first night. 

From the walkway, and with the hotel behind us, this was our view. 

And within the hotel complex, this was our view. 

Quite a lovely way to end a couple of busy days! 

A Glimpse

Laodicea

The city that made Jesus want to throw up. Reading Jesus' words to the church in this city jolts us awake.

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

The teaching pastor on our trip, Dr. Chris Wright, explained Jesus' words; those here received a warning. They were not hot nor were they cold: they were not useful. Jesus needed them to be useful. 

Dr. Wright and our guide, Dilek, also spoke about how personal Jesus' words were. Those who lived in the city of Laodicea considered themselves wealthy and independent, so much so that they refused help from Rome after an earthquake at one point. They told Rome,"We are just fine and we do not need your help! We are rich enough to take care of this." Those who lived and worked in the city were famous for and very proud of their luxurious purple dye, which was more expensive than other colors and more complex to make. They also exported a salve for the eyes, which purportedly had healing properties. It is no mistake that Jesus uses the words "wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked." He is speaking to their worldly strengths and their spiritual weaknesses. But in him, they were offered riches; in him, they were covered from shame; in him, their eyes would be truly opened. 

These words hit me squarely on the head. 

I know exactly where I stand on the spectrum too (oh, somewhere along the lines of JUST THE SAME PLACE).

This was the most powerful stop for me. The reminder, yes, the history, yes, and the humbling aspect of looking at what was once a very great place which is now pieces and ruins.

Humbling, indeed.