A renowned city of Ionia, and in the time of the Romans the capital of the part called 'the province of Asia,' being the west portion of Asia Minor. Being near the sea it was a place of great commerce, and as the capital of the province it had constant intercourse with the surrounding towns.The celebrated temple of Diana also brought multitudes of heathen. Its inhabitants are supposed to have been of Greek origin, with also a large number of Jews engaged in commerce. Acts 18:19-24; Acts 19:1,17,26,35; Acts 20:16,17; 1 Corinthians 15:32; 1 Corinthians 16:8; Ephesians 1:1; 1 Timothy 1:3; 2 Timothy 1:18; 2 Timothy 4:12; Revelation 1:11; Revelation 2:1 . It is now named Ayasolook. The ruins are extensive: the sea has retired, leaving a pestilential morass of mud and rushes.