After another lunch consisting of lentil soup we went into the nearby Ephesus Museum, a few images from the many exhibits on display but stupidly I mostly didn't take any notes of what I photographed, so I've either looked them up on the internet or made up my own descriptions.
A hurdler.
Quite a powerful image, I feel.
I think this was a Roman money box.
A couple more vases I wouldn't mind adding to my collection.
I don't know what this was about so I'm going to title it "Willies through the Ages"
These are both statues of Artemis, associated with childbirth and fertility, who was the main goddess worshipped at that time.
This is apparently Emperor Domitian (51-96 AD) although it looks more like Winston Churchill to me.
He was known for being a cruel and hard ruler, regularly launching treason trials and then executing or banishing even his mildest critics. He certainly had a very large forearm.
Leaving the museum I noticed this stork's nest on top of a nearby mosque - funny really, I'd never seen one before until September in Romania, and now two.
The dinkiest car ever.
Next stop was to visit the Basicila of St John (The Apostle, Disciple of Jesus and the one Jesus asked to look after his mother, Mary) who supposedly lived the last years of his life in Ephesus.
Outside the complex was a stand with Koran's in every language - had we known they were free maybe we'd have picked one up to compare it to our Bible. Or maybe it was a deliberate ploy to convert Christian pilgrims.
This lovely guy was desperate to shine my trainers, but happily settled for a photo instead when he saw them.
John was originally buried here on his death but the grave fell into disrepair and in 600s AD the Basilica was constructed by Justinian I and this is what's left of it now.
The castle behind was originally built around the same time but the walls were reconstructed in the 14th century onwards.
Early Christian icons.
This dog had rather latched on to me so the only way to get shake it off was to push it down the hole - only joking!
I love the size of these pots and wonder what they were used for.
Early Christian cross carved on one of the columns.
When I asked Göksel what this building was he merely said we'd be passing it on the way back down. Naively I assumed we'd be stopping - we didn't and I found out for myself it's the Isa Bey Mosque.
Of considerably more interest to me - Sternburgia lutea.
