In the mornings we walk through the archaeological site. It is very hot and we all wear hats and bring water to drink. Here is a picture of me with my hat and with Ricky Raccoon. He belongs to the son of a friend of mine who is here. You might see him again in other pictures!One of the things found in Ephesus that is amazing is called the terrace houses. These are 6 or 7 houses that were built on a slope of a hillside. Because of an earthquake the houses were covered with dirt and preserved over the centuries. Archaeologists found painted walls and lots of furniture and
other items that people used.After they were uncovered, the houses started to deteriorate. To protect them archaeologists built a structure over them and glass pathways for visitors to walk on.
Since we were being guided through the slope house by the director of the excavation we were allowed to go off of the glass pathways and actually into the rooms.The wall painting and mosaics on the floors were amazing. Actual people lived in these houses and you can
begin to see what life really might have been like. This is an example of the way a bathroom was constructed. The floor was raised so that heat and plumbing could go below the floor.
Archaeologists have found many examples of graffiti on the walls. How do you think that got here? What would happen if you wrote on your wall? In one of the rooms there is writing that looks like a shopping list with food items and their prices listed. Other graffiti looks like drawings of gladiators fighting. Did these people have different ideas about writing on walls? We also saw other amazing parts of the archaeological site. Near the terrace houses
is the Celsus Library. It has been reconstructed so that you can see how fantastic it was. It once held thousands of scrolls.Here is a picture of the ancient theater in Ephesus. It seated approximately 17,000-25,000 people! We walked way to the top and sat down. Without microphones you can hear
the people that are singing or talking on the stage area.If you are following I really am hoping that you will ask questions to guide me in what to take pictures of and what to talk about. What in the pictures today are you curious about? Do you want me to ask questions to the experts that I am traveling with?
We saw this sign when we were walking out of the theater:
I want to know about the sign you saw when walking out of the theater. It looks like it means "alien life forms fell from the sky here". I am curious about the paintings on the walls. Are these peoples homes or public buildings? Are the paintings decorative? Maybe the "shopping" list was a price list for a small store.
ReplyDeleteGood suggestion for the price list. I am wondering what other ideas are out there!
ReplyDeleteI like your interpretation of the sign. I think it needs to have a circle with a line to tell people NOT to fall, but once you are falling it is really too late anyway.
ReplyDeleteThe house paintings are actually the less expensive way to decorate a house. The expensive way is to put up marble on all of the walls.
Hi Janice,
ReplyDeleteThe students reading about your trip from Whitefish Bay, WI have these questions for you:
Have you seen anything valuable yet?
Who build the theater and terrace houses?
Why can you hear in the theater when there are no microphones?
Thank you!
Whitefish Bay Kids,
ReplyDeleteI want you to know that I got your questions and I have been working on an answer. I am going to put it in the next post!
Janice