The Hellenistic Period in Ephesus

When did Hellenistic Period start and end at the Ephesus?

The Hellenistic period of world history dates from the time Alexander the Great assumed the throne of Macedon in 336 BC until the death of Cleopatra in 30 BC.

Alexander the Great changed and influenced the history in many ways. The conquests of Alexander the Great and the subsequent the Successors were catalysts for profound political, economic,social, and cultural change in the area that stretched from the eastern Mediterranean to the Oxus in modern-day Afghanistan.

After he assumed the throne of Macedonian Empire in 336 B.C., he started his military campaigns to the Eastern civilizations. His campaign of conquests started in 334 B.C. and spanned from Greece to Anatolia (modern-day Turkey), Mesopotamia, Syria, Egypt, Persia, Afghanistan, and India. He extended the boundaries of his Macedonian Empire as far east as the city of Taxila in modern-day Pakistan.

What are the principal characteristics of the Hellenistic Period?

Its principal characteristic is that the territory of the Eastern Mediterranean area, from the Greek peninsula and the Balkans to Asia Minor and Persia, came under the domination of Greek culture.

Alexander's military campaigns exported Greek culture in terms of politics,art, architecture, language, law, literature, philosophy and religion.During his wars of conquest, he sought to meld the conquered culture with that of the Greeks. As a result of his policies, a new culture, blending with Egyptian, Persian, and Indian influences emerged and this blending became known as Hellenistic culture. The common language used in Hellenistic cities became Koine which was a Greek word for ''common'' and Koine was a dialect of Greek. 
 

The Hellenistic Period in Ephesus covers the period between the end of the 4th century BC and the 1st century BC. This period began with Alexander the Great taking Anatolia from the Persians and is one of the most important transformation phases in the history of Ephesus.

During the Hellenistic period, Ephesus was moved from its old settlement (the area around the Temple of Artemis) to the current foothills of Mount Panayır. This move was a strategic decision in terms of both defense and access to the port, and the city was re-planned.

During this period, the city showed great development under the rule of the Seleucids and then the Kingdom of Pergamon (Attalid Dynasty). Monumental structures such as rectangular streets, columned avenues, agoras (market and meeting areas), stoas (columned galleries) and theaters were built. Aqueducts and infrastructure systems were also established for the city's water needs.

During the Hellenistic period, the cult of Artemis was still strong and the Temple of Artemis continued to be the center of the city in both religious and economic terms.

This period laid the foundations for Ephesus to become an important cultural and commercial center in the eastern Mediterranean, beyond being just a local city. The Hellenistic construction and urban layout later formed the infrastructure of the magnificent Ephesus in the Roman period.