The Founding Myth of Ephesus
The founding of the city of Ephesus is recounted with a mythological prophecy and a tale of heroism. According to the legend, Androklos, son of Athenian King Kodros, fled the Dorian invasion in Greece, seeking a new homeland in Western Anatolia. When he consulted the Oracle of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, the oracle prophesied, “A fish and a wild boar will show you the way.” Years later, while Androklos and his companions were grilling fish at a coastal settlement, a spark leapt from the pan into the bushes; startled by the fire, a wild boar suddenly sprang up and fled. Androklos immediately pursued and captured the boar, deciding to establish the city at this location indicated by the prophecy. Thus, the city of Ephesus was founded at a location deemed fitting by the gods, as mythology and reality intertwined in this event. According to the legend, when Androklos later lost his life in a battle against the Carians, a monumental tomb was erected near the Magnesian Gate in his honor as the first king of Ephesus. This legend about the city's origins contributed to the inhabitants of Ephesus viewing their city as a product of divine fate and under the patronage of their goddess Artemis. Indeed, the wild boar, which played a role in the founding of the city, became ingrained in the cultural memory of Ephesus, becoming a part of the city’s legendary heritage.
The founding of the city of Ephesus is recounted with a mythological prophecy and a tale of heroism. According to the legend, Androklos, son of Athenian King Kodros, fled the Dorian invasion in Greece, seeking a new homeland in Western Anatolia. When he consulted the Oracle of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, the oracle prophesied, “A fish and a wild boar will show you the way.” Years later, while Androklos and his companions were grilling fish at a coastal settlement, a spark leapt from the pan into the bushes; startled by the fire, a wild boar suddenly sprang up and fled. Androklos immediately pursued and captured the boar, deciding to establish the city at this location indicated by the prophecy. Thus, the city of Ephesus was founded at a location deemed fitting by the gods, as mythology and reality intertwined in this event. According to the legend, when Androklos later lost his life in a battle against the Carians, a monumental tomb was erected near the Magnesian Gate in his honor as the first king of Ephesus. This legend about the city's origins contributed to the inhabitants of Ephesus viewing their city as a product of divine fate and under the patronage of their goddess Artemis. Indeed, the wild boar, which played a role in the founding of the city, became ingrained in the cultural memory of Ephesus, becoming a part of the city’s legendary heritage.
The founding of the city of Ephesus is recounted with a mythological prophecy and a tale of heroism. According to the legend, Androklos, son of Athenian King Kodros, fled the Dorian invasion in Greece, seeking a new homeland in Western Anatolia. When he consulted the Oracle of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, the oracle prophesied, “A fish and a wild boar will show you the way.” Years later, while Androklos and his companions were grilling fish at a coastal settlement, a spark leapt from the pan into the bushes; startled by the fire, a wild boar suddenly sprang up and fled. Androklos immediately pursued and captured the boar, deciding to establish the city at this location indicated by the prophecy. Thus, the city of Ephesus was founded at a location deemed fitting by the gods, as mythology and reality intertwined in this event. According to the legend, when Androklos later lost his life in a battle against the Carians, a monumental tomb was erected near the Magnesian Gate in his honor as the first king of Ephesus. This legend about the city's origins contributed to the inhabitants of Ephesus viewing their city as a product of divine fate and under the patronage of their goddess Artemis. Indeed, the wild boar, which played a role in the founding of the city, became ingrained in the cultural memory of Ephesus, becoming a part of the city’s legendary heritage.
The founding of the city of Ephesus is recounted with a mythological prophecy and a tale of heroism. According to the legend, Androklos, son of Athenian King Kodros, fled the Dorian invasion in Greece, seeking a new homeland in Western Anatolia. When he consulted the Oracle of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, the oracle prophesied, “A fish and a wild boar will show you the way.” Years later, while Androklos and his companions were grilling fish at a coastal settlement, a spark leapt from the pan into the bushes; startled by the fire, a wild boar suddenly sprang up and fled. Androklos immediately pursued and captured the boar, deciding to establish the city at this location indicated by the prophecy. Thus, the city of Ephesus was founded at a location deemed fitting by the gods, as mythology and reality intertwined in this event. According to the legend, when Androklos later lost his life in a battle against the Carians, a monumental tomb was erected near the Magnesian Gate in his honor as the first king of Ephesus. This legend about the city's origins contributed to the inhabitants of Ephesus viewing their city as a product of divine fate and under the patronage of their goddess Artemis. Indeed, the wild boar, which played a role in the founding of the city, became ingrained in the cultural memory of Ephesus, becoming a part of the city’s legendary heritage.