The tale of the two storks atop the temple of Artemis..

After visiting Ephesus, we stopped to visit the Temple of Artemis , one of the wonders of the ancient world. What can you say when all that is left of one of the marvels of the ancient world is reduced to one tall column standing in the middle of what looks like a swamp. It is only history that marks this place as important and what stands is a sad tale of how an important monument sits in a museum while the site itself stands frozen in time mourning it's loss

The site of the temple of Artemis..

After it's discovery by John Turtle Wood in 1869, Extensive excavations followed for the next few decades and the relics and sculptures discovered now sit in the Ephesus room of the British museum.
Compared to the spectacular ruins of Ephesus, there is only so much to see here and we stand enveloped in a strange sort of silence.  However the most arresting sight in this whole place is not made of stone, but of features and a beak and two longs. Two beautiful storks sit atop their large capacious nest and from their vantage point I can see how clearly they must be able to see the worlds beyond.

The next atop the remains of the temple of Artemis..

In this dull April afternoon, they sit preening their feathers and in an unhurried way that suggests the confidence that only comes from practise they tend to their hatchlings.

The nesting storks..

They are gorgeous birds and the last thing I expected to see in this barren desolate landscape and their presence breathes life into the dead past.

A closer picture of the nesting storks..

A parting glance at the nesting storks..

When we walk way I look back every now and then as if to make sure they are still there and so we say goodbye to  Ephesus with a smile on our faces.