The best books on Ephesus depend on the question you bring to the city. Some follow Paul and the early church, some follow Mary and Saint John, and some tell the story of the city itself, its temple and its later centuries. My list below has all three kinds.
I have spent more than ten years studying and guiding around Ephesus Ancient City and the surrounding attractions. I have been trying to create a wide library which contains information on every subject can be demanded by my guests. Here I would like to share a list of best books written on Ephesus and surrounding attractions. This of recommended books about Ephesus will be updated regularly with more books that I add to my personal library.
Recommended Books about Ephesus
- Ephesians Revisited: A Commentary on Paul’s Letter to the church at Ephesus by Frederick Widdowson
- Mary and the Goddess of Ephesus: The Continued Life of the Mother of Jesus by Melanie Bacon
- Arsinoe of Ephesus by Lorraine Blundell
- Ephesus and the Temple of Diana by Edward Falkener
- Ephesus: Its History and Religious Setting by Edgar M Stubbersfield
- The Secrets of Ephesus by Izabela Miszczak
- Heraclitus Of Ephesus: The Fragments Of The Work Of Heraclitus Of Ephesus On Nature And Heracliti Ephesii Reliquiae by G. T. W. Patrick, I. Bywater
- Ephesus After Antiquity: A late antique, Byzantine and Turkish City Reissue Edition
by Clive Foss - South from Ephesus Travels through Aegean Turkey by Brian Sewell
- A Journey Through Ephesus by David Gwartney
- Cats of Ephesos by Sabine Ladstatter
- JOHN an Exile in Ephesus by Alexander Smith
- Mary’s House: The Extraordinary Story Behind the Discovery of the House Where the Virgin Mary Lived and Died Paperback by Donald Carroll
- The Life of Sr. Marie de Mandat-Grancey and Mary’s House in Ephesus by Rev. Fr. Carl G. Schulte, C.M.
- St. Paul’s Ephesus: Texts and Archaeology by Jerome Murphy-O’Connor
- Christian Origins in Ephesus and Asia Minor by Mark R Fairchild
Which Kind of Book Suits Which Reader?
Choose the book by the question you carry to Ephesus. Bible readers will like the commentary on Paul’s letter and the books on Paul’s years in the city. Pilgrims will go for the books on Mary and her House of the Virgin Mary, and for the one about John.
History readers can take the books on temple of Artemis, the later Byzantine and Turkish city, or the old philosopher Heraclitus. For a lighter read there is a travel book, and one about the cats of Ephesus too.
Should You Read Before or After Visiting Ephesus?
I recommend my guests to read a little before the visit and the long books after it. Before you go, read Acts 19 and one short history, so that Artemis, Paul and the silversmiths are not strangers on the day. After the visit the thick books make more sense, because you have seen the places yourself.
Ephesus had a big library of its own, the Library of Celsus. It was built in the early 2nd century AD and is believed to have held around 12,000 scrolls. Today only front wall was rebuilt, so stop there for a minute and think about the books that once sat behind it.
Using the Site Plan While You Walk
Turn the plan so the street in front of you points up the page, and then find where you stand. It is easier than looking for north.
Most visits start at the Upper Gate and walk downhill to the Lower Gate, so look at the plan once at the start and again at the Library of Celsus. My post on the Upper Gate or the Lower Gate helps you choose the start.
Do not read long pages while you walk. The ruins are on the ground, the sun is on your head, so read the few lines about the next building when you are close to it, then look up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Ephesus mentioned in the Bible?
Acts 18 to 20 tells of Paul’s visits to the city, and the riot of the silversmiths is in Acts 19. Ephesus also appears in 1 Corinthians 16:8, 1 Timothy 1:3 and in the first of the seven letters of Revelation (2:1-7).
Why is Ephesus famous?
Ephesus was one of the biggest cities of Roman Asia and the home of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Paul stayed there for about three years (Acts 20:31), which makes it a key city of early Christianity.
Do I need a guide for Ephesus, or is a book enough?
You can walk Ephesus alone with a good book and the site plan. A licensed guide adds the stories and the Bible background that books skip, and you can ask questions on the spot. I wrote more in Do You Need a Guide at Ephesus?
