Inside Ephesus

Inside the Ephesus

Celsus Library

This library was built between 117 and 120 AD for Julius Celcus Polemaneanus by his son as monumantal tomb. It was revealed by excavations in 1904 and restored between 1970 and 1978. It's facade was two-storeyed, and the interior consisted of a single and large hall. The statues in the niches of the facade symbolised the virtues of Celcus : wisdom (sophia), knowledge (episteme), destiny (ennoia) and virtue (arete).

The Theatre

The theatre was first built in the Hellenistic period (3rdury BC) during the reign of Lysimachos on the slope of Mount Pion, and was later enlarged. The theatre, in which wild animal fights and gladiator games were held in the 3rd and 4th centuries, is the largest theatre structure in Turkey and has a capacity of 24,000 spectators. The stage-building had three storeys including the ground floor. Only the ground floor has reached to the present and is well preserved. The secrion where the audience sat had a height of 38 meters (114 feet) and a diameter of 158 meters (474 feet).

The Temple Of Hadrian

It was built in the 2nd century AD, which was dedicated to Emperor Hadrian. In the front, two columns with Corinthian capitals and two piers also with Corinthian capitals supported a semi-circular pediment at the sides.

Marble Street

The street which runs between the Celcus Library and the Grand Theatre is called Marble Street. It was paved with blocks of marble in the 5th century and had heering-bone slopes and has reached to the presentin a well-preserved condition.

The Houses On The Slope

These houses are also known to have been the houses of rich persons. The houses are very plain from the outside but they had very decorative interiors. They are generally two-storeyed and the second floors were reserved for the bedrooms. The houses were built in the Augustus period and used until the 7th century AD. The houses were restored and can be visited.

The State Agora

It is assumed that the agora was built in the 1st century BC and took its last shape in the period of Augustus. The remains in the middle of the agora are the foundations of the temple of Isis. The group of statues called Polyphemus formed the pediment of the temple, and are now exhibited in the Museum of Ephesus. The state agora was used together with the buildings surrounding it as Ephesus's center of administration.