Cultures and traditions are a crucial defining factor for the various human civilizations that have existed throughout the world. Cultures define people and set them apart from the rest of the world by uniquely distinguishing their way of life and also linking them to a particular geographical location across the world. Over the years, there have been numerous civilizations that have risen and fallen. In most cases, they passed traits of their language, religion and culture to the preceding generations that in turn were practiced and helped shape the new ways of life across the world. From architecture to language, music and religion, all these elements have been transferred from one generation to the other over centuries. The most profound ancient culture that has had a significant impact on how people live in this century is without a doubt the ancient Greek Empire . The Greeks can be defined as one of the earliest western civilizations since the majority of the preceding empires and nations borrowed a lot of elements from this ancient cultures developed them and tailored them to their urban needs. These cultural elements include the democratic values, education systems, architectural designs, religious beliefs, language, and linguistic symbols (words), among many other things. The ancient home of the Ephesians in Ephesus is one of the greatest ancient human settlements and also one of the earliest Western European cities. It was originally part of the ancient Greece’s Greek Empire and was under the control of various other empires including the Romans and the Goths . Today the city is found on the west coast of Turkey. The city was famed for its role in propagating Christianity, its buildings, education, people, culture, traditions, and system of government that have profoundly influenced modern nations and kingdoms.
Background and History: Ephesus
Ephesus is a city of ancient Greece civilization whose founding can be traced back to 4th century BC. The city thrived for ages under various civilizations and eventually declined after it was overrun by goths (barbarians). The city was located on the eastern shores of ancient Greece facing the Mediterranean Sea. It was situated nearly three miles from the major harbors and the city thrived and was considered both ancient Greece’s and the Roman Empire’s best cities. According to historians, on a map “depicting the physical relief of the hinterland of Ephesus, an area of approximately 90 square miles.” 1 Therefore, this means that it was considerably big even by today’s standards. The city is believed to have been founded in the early centuries by a prince known as Androkolos. Archeological findings identify that, “the city's legendary founder, Androkolos, [...] tomb was still to be seen in his own day 'near the road leading from the sanctuary past the Olympieion to the Magnesian.” 2 The city is believed to have fallen from the Greeks and came under the control of the Hittite Empire. According to Lethaby, the city of Ephesus in the period of the 540 BC had a Lydian King by the name Croesus; the Lydians were part of the Hittite Empire that dominated the region at the time. 3 The Lydian King is credited for playing the critical role of searching for funds that were used to reconstruct The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus. According to Lethaby, “At the rebuilding of the Temple of Artemis [...]Croesus gave 'golden heifers' as well as many of the great marble pillars, [...] an account of the royal donor, King of Lydia and sovereign of the nations on this side the Halys.” 4 Therefore, making him the most important donor who participated greatly in the rebuilding efforts of the temple. This effort was towards the rebuilding of the temple since Herostratus had earlier on destroyed it earlier. According to Lethaby, “On the site of the 'Croesus Temple', a series of foundations was exposed which showed signs of an earlier temple.” 5 The temple of Artemis was built to be even bigger than it originally was. Wood in the AAAS states , “Ephesus, one of the twelve Ionian cities of Asia Minor, was famous in antiquity as containing one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the great Temple of Artemis.” 6 However, it was later destroyed before again being discovered by modern-day archeologist.
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After years of control by the King Lysimachus, the ruler of the Persian Empire, the city of Ephesus was later taken over by the Egyptians who ruled it for years before again falling under the Roman Empire in 133 BC 7 . Under the leadership of King Lysimachus, the city was fortified and expanded greatly. Historians praise King Lysimachus for his vision and city planning techniques as he discovered that the city would grow and added the necessary infrastructure to allow growth credit the King 8 . Under the Roman Empire, the city of Ephesus was seen majorly as the point of connection between Asia and Europe. According to historians, Ephesus was the link between east and west; it was diverse and full of intellectuals making it a vital city for the Roman Empire. 9 It was a diverse city and had well laid out public spaces and monuments from Rome. For its development and diversity and strategic location in the year 100 AD, the governor of Rome’s official residence was constructed within the city and the city was further designated as the capital of Asia instead of Pergamus. 10 Ephesus had a thriving trade and harbor sector and thus attracted more people into its hinterlands. Much of the social infrastructure uncovered by archeologist is the direct participation of Roman Empire, from amphitheaters to the Library of Celsus , prison and the Agora.
Soon after the death of Christ, most of his appointed disciples such as Paul took their time traveling across most of Asia and Europe and in Ephesus, they gained a lot of supporters further aiding in the rise of Christianity across the world. The city is even mentioned severally in the bible and has a whole book that is addressed as the letter of Paul to the people of Ephesus, Ephesians in the New Testament. During Paul’s time, not everyone was willing to listen to the message of Christianity. Ephesus was a religious center full of many diverse cultures. According to historians, the governor of Rome appointed, “goddess of Ephesus to become the goddess of the entire province of Asia; and her worship drew vast crowds of pilgrims from the whole country, as well as tourists and merchant from Europe.” 11 Paul asserts to this pointing to hostilities within the city that led him to be jailed in the book of Acts Chapter 19 Verses 23 to 26, Paul states, “there arose a great disturbance about the Way. … A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there.” 12 Demetrius encouraged people to revolt based on the fact that Paul had managed to change most people’s religious beliefs from idolatry to Christianity in the region of Ephesus and most of the countries surrounding the capital. Eventually, Christianity took over the city and the city thrived for several centuries. Historians identify that; the city was taken over by the Goths, a group of barbarian fighters from the German regions of Europe in the year 267 AD, Who later converted to Christianity. 13 The Goths destroyed most of the city including parts of the temple Artemis. By this time Christianity had spread far and wide across most of Europe and Asia. In the year 431 AD, a council of churches was formed and established in Ephesus and asserted that Mary was indeed a virgin and the mother of Jesus. According to Ramsay in the same year 431 AD, Christian council in Ephesus established a gigantic holy church called Maria in honor of the mother of God. 14 After its destruction from the Goths, several other empires tried to revive the city to no avail as it had lost its appeal over the following centuries. Horsley states that, the city’s continued glory was halted and destroyed by the Sassanid in 614AD. 15 This decline saw the demise of a city that had existed for ages and seen various civilizations come and go and each transforms the city by leaving behind some form of culture and tradition. Eventually, the Ottoman Empire took over the lands, and it later became part of modern-day Turkey. The ancient city of Ephesus is located approximately 80 miles of Izmir a growing Turkish city. It lies three kilometers inland facing the Aegean Sea and the amount of excavation done so far is not even close to uncovering half the city.
Culture in Ephesus
Ephesus was the largest city and the capital of Asia Minor; it hard a large harbor and magnificent architecture making it both a tourist attraction and a center for trade. It was the second most cosmopolitan city after Rome, and as such the population of the city was huge. The Governor of Rome identified the goddess of the Ephesians to be the representative goddess of all of Asia; thus, people from regions in Asia and Europe flocked into Ephesus for spiritual purposes and pilgrimage. Magic and superstitious beliefs, as well as Christianity, Islam and several other religious views, had established themselves in this city over time. For a period of time in its history, it was considered the religious capital of the ancient Greece Empire and also for the Roman Empire. According to Elizabeth Hart, Ephesus popularity and attractiveness was based on the fact that Jews, Asians, Arabs, Turks, and pagan Greeks were able to coexist together not necessarily in peace all the time, and their various religions dominated the city between one period and another. 16 The city’s central religious figure was the goddess Diana of Ephesus who was a goddess in charge of fertility. She was widely accepted across the entire minor Asia. According to historians, Diana was one of the most powerful goddesses worshiped and respected through most of minor Asia and Greece. 17 She was also referred to as the goddess Artemis, Diana was the Latinate version of her name. The temple in Artemis was designated to be her dwelling place where people from all over came to pay their gratitude, respects and pray. According to historians, “Artemis was a stern and sometimes cruel goddess who in early times demanded human sacrifices. Later on, surrogate victims were offered. [...] The philological sources and etymological origins for Artemis' name have to do with butchery, murder, and hanging”, rituals and sacrifices of people were witnessed earlier on in ancient Greece and during the Persian rule. 18 Before battles, warriors of the community Caryatis took part in a dance, described as a fighting dance for their goddess to grant them victory. According to Hersey, “The caryatis dance [...] performed before battles, in which at the climax the dancers raise their hands as they line up row by row in battle formations.” 19 Art was a treasured trait in Ephesus and widely encouraged, from the time of Lysimachus, various archeological discoveries have unearthed Ionian coins used for trade within the Persian empires. Lysimachus used the coin as a propaganda tool to establish and define his rule over the conquered lands. 20 The Roman too had developed a complex system that had metal coins and taxation on businesses and individual, but perhaps the most important finding was the unearthing of the sculptures that entail the design of the Hermes Drum by British archeologist. This design is believed to be from the ancient Greece era as most of the aspects of the sculpture point to that time. According to reporters, the unearthed sculpture entailed images of the Katachthonian deities, Eros, Plato, Thanatos and several other elements of importance from the ancient Greek era. 21 This aspect of sculpture making and appreciation was passed down from one conquest of the city to another that even during the times of the Roman Empire sculptures were still highly treasured. The city also adopted the iconic orders that had been developed and pioneered by the Greeks and the Romans into their building designs that ensured a measure of aesthetics in their buildings. During the time of the Romans, social facilities and educational centers such as gymnasiums, amphitheaters, synagogues, libraries were constructed for use by the people who came visiting. Undesirables were put in prisons instead of being killed or cast out and the elements of democracy featured in governance. For example, when Demetrius organized a crowd meant to lynch Paul, the authorities in the city of Ephesus came to Paul’s protection. Religious freedoms were accorded to people in the city. Furthermore, researchers state that Romans policies were populist and loved to amuse the people, from grand architecture to festivals and games all this were exhibited in stadia’s and thus people flocked the city in numbers to trade and leisure. 22 There was also a large number of published magic related literature in the city of Ephesus, “the so-called Ephesian letters, famous among many” were preserved and they had the magical formula that was highly considered in the Hellenistic world. 23 These were essential aspects that guided the people in the worship of the goddess Artemis. Christians later collected the books and burned most of them in later years. The diversity in the city and the history is what build the city and preserved it through the ages. Christianity and Islam eventually dominated the region and took a controlling role in religious, traditional, governance and political issues.
Cultural Issues in the Passage: Acts 19:23-41
In the book of Acts chapter 19 verses 23 all through to 41, Paul describes the riot that had befallen the city of Ephesus due to his preaching’s that was slowly turning people from the goddess Artemis to Jesus Christ’s salvation. The writer explains that a silversmith named Demetrius who made immense profit from selling silver shrines of the goddess Artemis to the people who made pilgrimage to Ephesus became alarmed by the message of Paul that sought to convert more people into Christianity. He called for a meeting and explained his point of view and the fact that Paul was threatening his trade and way of life, and that he was demeaning their goddess Artemis. This action caused a large mob in opposition to Christianity and its spread not only in Ephesus but also throughout Europe and Asia to form in opposition, and they went into the theater to confront Paul. Paul’s disciples urged him not to interact with them for he would be in grave danger. The crowd chanted, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians” when a Jew tried to calm the crowd. They were encouraged to press charges if they felt wronged.
There are various aspects identified to be culturally inclined in this passage. First of all, towards the end of the meeting in the theater in Ephesus, Alexander urges the mob to go to their courts or seek pre-consuls or press charges if they felt they were assaulted. He urged them to do this or risk being fined for rioting placing legal assemblies in high regard. These measures go to show that as a society, the people of Ephesus had a strong rule of governance and they had faith in their system. People were also traders and they made a living out of the trade they conducted. Demetrius, for example, was a silversmith who built silver idols for sale to others while at the same time appreciating the goddess Artemis through his work. There was also diversity in the city, from this passage alone, Jews are singled out for being Christians but at least they coexisted together side by side. The theaters were also mentioned to play a vital role in assembly of people and to pass messages to others, pointing out to freedom of speech since authorities never intervened because the theaters were a provision by the empire to the city for social gatherings. The passage also points out to the fact that there was more than one religion in practice at the time and a vibrant trade across Asia with Ephesus playing a central role in its growth. Demetrius also mentions about the visitors that come to the temple, pointing out to the fact that indeed people came from far and wide to appreciate the city and worship. Paul himself was a traveler/ disciple spreading Christianity everywhere he went.
Exegesis Of Your Text That Focuses On How Paul Conducts His Mission Works In That City
Paul engaged the Jews and the Gentiles in Ephesus in rhetorical persuasions that focused on turning their perspective from polytheistic idolatry into the worship of the one true God. In his view, worship of a goddess that is handcrafted by human beings did not count as a religion. Paul persuaded people and invoked the name of Jesus to ensure healing and good luck. To people like Demetrius, the silversmith, their city’s culture and what they had grown up knowing and focusing on, was slowly being changed by outsiders. Demetrius argument defined the spread of Christianity purely from an economic perspective. With the proliferation of Christianity, his silversmith business was slowly being edged out as more people shunned idolatry. This religion was a significant threat to his livelihood, and as such, it needed to be addressed. Christianity was also perceived to be a Jewish religion that also played a part in creating further division against its spread to a city that was not Jewish dominated.
Assessment Of Paul’s Ministry Among The Gentile
Paul’s approach to spreading news about Christianity was aggressive, this was because he was a Roman citizen and was guaranteed protection from any harm by the authorities in the Roman Empire. There was a general adherence to the rule of law. Nonetheless, Paul exercised caution by taking the advice of his disciples not to spite the crowd that had assembled in the theater for his own sake. He invoked the name of Jesus over all prayers and wishes and discredited the goddess Artemis of the Ephesians. Archaeologists point out that the resulting opposition “If we may trust the account in Acts, the cult of Artemis was in eclipse as a result of Paul's preaching, and the Ephesians were trying to guard the prestige of their divinity.” 24 Thus, Paul’s work was adding followers while at the same time creating a more significant opposition to his ministry. According to Oster, this resulted in the creation of three laws that were made to exalt Artemis and undermine the spread of other religion that led to the struggle for supremacy between the cult of Ephesians that believed in Artemis and Christian disciples. In my opinion, when trying to persuade a society on an ideology, respect to their cultural affiliations is prudent as it enables them to be more accepting to the message if it is presented from their world point of view.
Conclusion
Ephesus was a great city founded by Androkolos during the first century BC as he sought to increase the Greek empire. It was significantly positioned giving it an advantage over most cities making it prosper in trade and culture. It was steeped in the worship of Idols central among them being Diana or Artemis. These forms of religion led to the construction of the great temple of Artemis, one of the key wonders of the ancient world. The city fell from the Romans into the Persians, to the Roman Empire, to the Goths and finally to the Ottoman when it was deemed not necessary. Through all this occupation, it gained a lot culturally, trade wise and politically, making it the second most important city in the Roman Empire. Furthermore, the cultural appreciation of material aesthetic for most of this ancient civilization saw magnificent structures being erected within the city. From a religious point of view, the city was transformed from a polytheistic society into a monotheistic society overtime but with opposition. With the growth and advancement in the culture, most of this transformation have been recorded over time and is being excavated and maintained.
Bibliography
Acts Chapter 19 Verses 23 to 41 Paul’s records on the Riots in Ephesus
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