Ephesus has had a fascinating and eventful history. Famous for its connections with Artemis, Heraclitus and St Paul, it is also one of the richest archaeological sites in the Mediterranean. Founded in the tenth century BC, it became, in the Hellenistic and Roman periods, the largest city and most important commercial centre in Asia Minor and continued in this role into Late Antiquity, where Professor Foss takes up its story. Professor Foss charts the fluctuations of Ephesus in all their aspects, religious, social, political and geographical, with extensive reference to many sources - historians, hagiographers, and travellers, as well as the rich archaeological evidence. The author's ability to visualise and convey what the city must have looked like at each stage, coupled with his strong narrative sense and varied choice of illustrations, will appeal to the general reader interested in Ephesus and to archaeologists, historians and those interested in church history.

The volumes published in the series Beitrage zur Altertumskunde comprise monographs, collective volumes, editions, translations and commentaries on various topics from the fields of Greek and Latin Philology, Ancient History, Archeology, Ancient Philosophy as well as Classical Reception Studies. The series thus offers indispensable research tools for a wide range of disciplines related to Ancient Studies.

This illustrated handbook presents a concise history of the development of the coinage of the early Arab caliphate in the seventh century, tracing its transition from coins that closely resembled Byzantine issues with imperial images to purely aniconic specimens with inscriptions in Arabic. This so-called "Arab-Byzantine series" sheds light on a pivotal period in the history of Syria, Palestine, and Egypt, as formerly Byzantine provinces were slowly Arabicized and Islamicized following the Arab conquests of the 630s and 640s. The historical introduction, which includes descriptions of all the basic types, is followed by a summary catalogue of the recently acquired collection of Arab-Byzantine coins at Dumbarton Oaks.

The Ottoman Empire ruled the near East, dominated the Mediterranean, and terrorized Europe for centuries. However, its origins are obscure. The Beginnings of the Ottoman Empire illuminates the founding of the Empire, drawing on Turkish, Greek, Arabic, and Latin sources as well as coins, buildings, and topographic evidence. Clive Foss takes the reader through the rugged homeland of Osman, the founder of the Ottomans, placing his achievement in the context of his more powerful neighbours, most notably the once mighty Byzantine Empire, then in the terminal stages of its decline. Foss then charts the progress of Osman's son Orhan, until the fateful moment in 1354 when his forces crossed into Europe and began their spectacular conquests.

Cyriac of Ancona (1391-1452) was among the first to study the physical remains of the ancient world in person and for that reason is sometimes regarded as the father of classical archaeology. This volume contains a life of Cyriac to the year 1435 by his friend Francesco Scalamonti, which relies on Cyriac's own records, along with several letters to and from Cyriac, and other texts illustrating his early life. These include Cyriac's letter-treatise in praise of Julius Caesar, countering the attacks on the founder of the Roman Empire made by Renaissance republicans. A number of the texts included have been freshly edited and translated for the first time in this volume.

A complete record of the Walls of Nicomedia (which was vital for the defence of Constantinople) and of the smaller fortresses along the gulf ranging in date from the 3rd to the 15th century. Written sources provide the historical context to the sites and relations between Byzantines, Crusaders and Turks.