 The earliest ruins of Ephesus date back to 8th-7th century BC, but some archaeologist believe that Ephesus (Apasas) was a city mentioned in Hittities inscriptions which would make the city of Ephesus even older by 500 plus years. Mycenaean ceramic ware has been found in area and the dating of these painted vessels are dated from the 14th and 15th centuries BC. This appears to backup the claims of the Hittities' writings.
 Ephesus' people lived basically in peace until the 7th century BC when the Kimmerians invaded the region and destroyed the Temple of Artemis. In the 6th century BC Ephesus rebuilt and became renowned for its seaport. In 547 BC Persia was now in control of western Anatolia, but rebellions and the coming of the Peloponesian Wars made Persia's hold on the area shaky at best.
 The coming of Alexander the Great forced the Persians to flee and Ephesians had a new master. But again the seesaw of leaders in the area continued until the coming of the Roman rule and in 27 BC, Augustus and senate of Rome decreed that Ephesus become the capital of the Asian province. From this period of Roman rule we see glory of those days in Ephesus' ruins.
 Christianity played the next major role with coming of Saint Paul in 53 AD. Paul's visit started a riot in the streets of Ephesus, but as time went on more Christians came. Mother Mary and Saint John are said to have been buried in or near Ephesus. Christian councils were held in Ephesus in 431 AD some 200 Bishops attended the meeting. By the end of the fifth century AD the port of Ephesus had become swampy and unusable and the city moved further inland. Thus Ephesus lost its importance and beauty it once held. Today the ruins of Ephesus bear witness to golden days of the Roman Empire in Anatolia.
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