The gradual desertion of Ephesus, a once-thriving ancient Greek city located near present-day Seluk in Turkey, stemmed from a confluence of environmental, economic, and political factors. Silt accumulation in the Cayster River, the waterway that once provided Ephesus with crucial access to the sea, played a pivotal role. As the river silted up, the harbor receded, hindering maritime trade and consequently damaging the city’s economic vitality.
The diminishing harbor access significantly impacted Ephesus’s prosperity. Maritime trade was the city’s lifeblood, and its decline led to a reduction in commercial activity, resulting in economic hardship for its inhabitants. Simultaneously, repeated Arab raids throughout the 7th and 8th centuries introduced political instability and insecurity, further driving the population away. The combination of a deteriorating harbor and the constant threat of attack made life in Ephesus increasingly precarious.
