The Magnesia Gate

This famous gate, which faces to city of Magnesia, was discovered by Mr. Wood who had been looking for the Artemis temple for seven years. After the discovery of an inscription at the theatre revealing there was a ceremonial road from temple to the theatre and passing through the Magnesia Gate and back to the temple of Artemis, Wood first discovered the Magnesia Gate and then followed the ceremonial road leading to the temple and finally discovered deeply buried temple of Artemis.

The State Agora

Located at the upper part of the city and in the official area of Ephesus, the State Agora was the center of the official and religious ceremonies of the city. Former Gymnasium of the city was turned into official Roman Forum. Members of famous Polio Family built a Great Imperial Hall, opened to public 11 AD and it was dedicated to Emperor Augustus and his son adopted son, Tiberius, who was the co-emperor for a while and Artemis and people of Ephesus. On the eastern end of the Forum, the statues of Augustus, Tiberius and Augustus' wife Livia were found. Augustus and Livia were christianized by signs of crosses put on their fronts. This area became the gallery containing the statues of the imperial family. This big square, surrounded impressive monuments, witnessed great ceremonies concerning imperial cult and the city.

The State Agora

which took its final form during the late Augustian Period measured 58 to 160 meters. Archaeologist discovered a small temple, dedicated to an Egyptian Goddess Isis towards the western end of the Agora. An inscription reveals that the temple was built by Marc Anthony for Isis. An impressive round building on the southern side of the was called Water Palace and it held the water of the city coming from 5 major sources. The water was distributed to the rest of the city from this impressive monument. Great number statues depicting minor sea and water gods were discovered there during the archaeological digs are now displayed in the local museum in Selcuk.

Royal Basilica

The Royal basilica, a long colonnaded hall, situated on the northern side, is one of the most impressive structures of Ephesus. According to an inscription, this two storied and three aisled stoa was built by the Polio Family in the year of 11 AD. The stoa, which was badly destroyed by an earthquake in the year of 23 AD, was rebuilt during the time of Emperor Neron. The statues of emperor Augustus his adopted son Tiberius and his wife Livia were discovered in the stoa during the digs are displayed in Selcuk Museum. Some of the columns of basilica supported Ionic capitals with bull heads. One of the interesting finds in the basilica is a game board which can be seen on one of the pavement stones. The temple for the imperial cult facing to Imperial hall was erased to ground during the Christian Centuries.

Buleteroion/Odeon

According to its inscription, the Odeon was built by one of the rich citizens of Ephesus in the second century AD and presented to Gods and People of Ephesus. This small hall which could hold 1500 people was used for concerts, lectures, poetry reading competitions. It was also used for the meeting of city council. Visitors still enjoy the lower storey of the stage building. A beautiful head of Eros is attributed to Lyzippos, one of the masters of Greek sculpture was also discovered at Odeon Destroyed by several earthquakes, the Odeon/Buleterion lost most of its original stones during the construction of Scolastica Baths when a Christian woman called Scolastica took great number of construction material while she was reconstructing the Roman Baths in the vicinity of Hadrian Temple. Odeon had a roof with tiles.

City Hall

This was where Ephesians kept their sacred fire which was never allowed to be put out. The city hall might have witnessed the bitter arguments of council members who debated over the silting up process which blocked their harbor. During the digs, Austrian archaeologist discovered two outstanding statues of Ephesian Artemis at the City Hall. These two statues had been deeply buried by some Ephesians who had still great love and respect for Artemis, the former Goddess of the city. The standing Doric Columns have the inscriptions mentioning the Curetes, priestesses who helped to Leto while she was giving birth to Artemis and Apollo. It was in the City Hall Ephesians had bitter arguments about their harbor which was being silted up by Caystros river. Eventually the city lost its harbor and ships couldn't enter the harbor any more. The harbor area became marshy grounds and it was cause of great malaria disease because of mosquitoes.

The Polio Fountain The arch, located on the western part of the State Agora and on the Domitian Square indicate the location of the Polio Fountain. Built during the second century AD, the fountain once contained the statues depicting Odysseus and his friends trying to blind Plyphemus, the Cyplop during his voyage after the Trojan war. These statues which formerly decorated the pediment of the Isis Temple in the Agora were reused for the Polio Fountain in a later date. Now displayed at the Selcuk Museum, these statutes show Odysseus and his two companions trying to make the Cyplop drunk and two others sharpen a pole with which they would make him blind.

The Temple of Domitian

This impressive temple in the Corintian Style was built for the Emperor Domitian ruling during the first century. In 83 AD, Emperor Domitianus gave permission to Asian Cities Association for the third imperial temple in the Asian Province of Roman Empire. First Imperial Temple was in Pergamum and second was in Smyna. With the construction of the temple for emperors worshipping, Ephesus got two more titles; temple warden and Metropolis of Asia. In addition to respect and prestige, the construction of the imperial temple brought many advantages and money to Ephesus. Roman Emperors were certainly more generous towards the cities with imperial temples. After the construction of temples for emperors worshipping, , in addition to traditional city festivals and games, Ephesus could organise Olympic Games and welcome all the musicians, athletes, orators coming from the different cities of the ancient world. A temple with 8*13 columns and an altar having carvings depicting war booties were built on mighty Roman arches. The temple dominated the view of the whole city. The temple had the colossal statues of the defied Roman emperors. Only head of Titus, Domitian's brother and sharer of his temple was found. The temple was surrounded by three storied coloums on the northern and eastern side. Visitors enjoy the figures of the captive barbarians. This shows the overwhelming power of Romans over the other nations. Saint John, who was the head of the church in Ephesus, was exiled to Patmos during the persecutions of Domitanus. He returned to Ephesus after the murder of this cruel Roman Emperor. After official acceptance of of Christianity, all of his temples, statues and inscriptions were destroyed by the Christians. His temple in Ephesus was no exception. It was raised to ground and the statue of the emperor was also broken. The local museum in Selcuk has the head and the arm of the Emperor Domitionus.

The Curetes Street

This impressive coloumned street starting from Heracles Gate ends at the Celsus Library. Pedestals, row of coloums and entrances of shops indicate how impressive this street was during the ancient times. This was one of the major avenues of Ephesus having shops, fountains, latrines and temples. Visitors enjoy re-erected columns, entrances of the former Roman Shops and even some game boards discovered in front of some of the shops. Trajan Fountain According to an inscription Greek Language running along the facade, the Trajan Fountain was constructed during the reign of Emperor Trajan by asiarch Aristion who did great services for the city It was probably built in honour of the emperor's visit. The facade of this two stroyed building once decorated with the statues of Dyonisus, the god of wine and theatre; Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty; Androclos, legendary founder of Ephesus and Roman Emperor Trajan. The water came from the hillside and fell into the big pool through the square hole, situated under the statue of the emperor. Since this sacred pool was dedicated to emperor and gods of Ephesus, the population of Ephesus couldn't touch the water of the big pool but they obtained their water from the small pool only. The statues, once decorated the facade of the fountain, now are displayed at the local museum of Ephesus.

Hadrian Temple

This small but impressive Roman Temple which started for Emperor Trajan was completed in honour of the visit of the emperor Hadrian who visited the city few times. Temple's restored facade has the figure of Tyche on the keystone of the arch, the goddess of good luck and the figure of Medusa emerging from the achantus leaves. Most interesting detail, we encounter at this temple are four freezes depicting various mythological scenes. First of the freses shows Androclos, legendary founder of the city. After he consults to find out where he would found his new city, he chases the wild boar. Second piece depicts the Olympian Divinities. On the third piece, we see Dyanusus sitting on an elephant chasing the Amazons from India down to Ephesus. Amazons who arrived to Ionia region, they establish few cities and one of them as Ephesus. Third piece shows Gods and Goddesses accompanying Emperor Theodosius and his son Arcadius. One of the figure is identified as Artemis. This late Roman carvings shows Theodosius, one of the most devoted Christian emperors next to Artemis, the goddess of pagan Ephesus. Slope Houses Roman Villas The Roman House was like British men's castle. Main concern was privacy and security. It was inward looking building. the Greek and Romans were deeply concerned about their social and physical boundaries. One of the most popular plans was Domus. This plan had a central courtyard or atrium surrounded by group of rooms. The water basin collected the water coming from the roofs and led the water to underneath cistern. One of the important rooms was the room used by the master of the house as office. There the owner received his business partners and guests. Second important room was the house shrine where inhabitants of the house worshipped to their divinities. Third important room was triclinium where inhabitants had their meals. Greek and Romans ate reclining rather than sitting. Their couches were situated side by side around the three sides of a great table (three couches on each side of the table).

Roman Villas

The newly excavated area of Roman Villas now can be visited by the visitors to Ephesus. One of these houses Terrace 1 was excavated between 1960 and 1967 under the direction of H. Vetter. This city block, which covers an area of 3000 meters square which encompasses 6 residential units, are situated on three terraces at the lower end of Bulbuldag. These Roman Villas which has been inhabited since the Hellenistic period had a typical plan with central courtyard and all the rooms lined around the courtyard. Since these villas has been used nearly 600 years, many alteration can be seen easily. Terrace house 2 The excavations in this insula was carried out in 1967 and 1983 was brought to conclusion with the construction of the roof over these houses trying to give museum like image for the Roman Houses. It covers an area of 4000 square meters. These were Roman condominiums built over terraces on the slopes of Bulbuldagi. On the slope houses, there are six houses with their sizes changing from 400 meters square to 600 meters square. These were peristyle houses with courtyards and two-three floors. Their main entries were on the narrow side streets and were entred through an impressive marble gate. Entry hall area also had washrooms for the guests. As to dirty water, it was carried by a perfect sewage system under these Roman Villas. Water was optained from the wells and cisterns underneath the courts and through the city's water supply system. Courtyards were central focus of the houses. They were always furnished so well to impress the visitors. Mosaics, frescoes, richly decorated fountains shows this concern. It was thanks to light coming through the courtyard, Roman Villas were well lit. Belonging to rich Roman Citizens, these villas are located at the heart of the city and surround major religious and public buildings. Each Terrace shows two dwellings, equal sizewise and and plan which follow the typical Greek Peristyle houses with all the rooms facing to courtyard and with self contained plan meaning they faced inward not outward The inscriptions after the earthquake Ephesus was shaken by majors earthquakes in 358, 365 and 368 AD. This was the cause of big economical decline and it took time to recover from this economical crisis. Inscriptions on the Arsinoe's tomb explain the reconstruction program organised by Emperor Vales, Valentianus and Gratianus. Following the Edit, an intense reconstruction program based on collected taxes and donations was started. Tomb of Arsinoe IV. The small building known as "the tomb of a young girl" was identified as the tomb of Arsinoe IV, the sister of Cleopatra. She was invited to Ephesus by her sister and Mary Antony. Soon, she understood that she would be killed by her sister and her lover. Although she took shelter in Artemis Temple, she was killed.

Monument of Adroclos

Hadrians Gate

Roman Emperor Hadrian visited Ephesus twice. Ephesians built great monuments in honour of Hadrian including this gate. Celsus Library

According to its inscription, this amazing Roman library was built in the first quarter of the second century AD by Proconsul Aquila for the memory of his father Julius Celsus Polemaenus who was a former Roman senator, major mason of Emperor Trajan. Situated by the south gate of the Commercial Agora, Celsus Library draws attention of the visitors because of the its fascinating two storoyed restored facade with 6 windows. Flight of steps, flanked by two statue bases having inscriptions lead to the main reading room. The inscriptions gives information about Celsus, his official career. He was first he Consul then Proconsul Asia in the year 106/107. Celcus moved to Ephesus during the end of hi life and died there. Inscription also mentions the Aquila, the son of Celsus who became council 110 AD and built this library as Hereon for his father. According to inscription, Aquila left also a certain sum of the money for the upkeeping of the building and for the purchase of books. Four statues representing four virtues of Celsus are situated at the entrance of the library are now displayed in Vienna Museum. The library was burned down during the terrible earthquake of 264 AD. Main room of the library was never refurbished. During the later centuries, library's facade served as backdrop decoration for the fountain formed there. During the excavations in 1906, carvings "so called" Partian frieze were discovered by the steps of the library. The facade of the library which was restored to its former glory between 1970 and 1978 by the Austrian archaeologist.

Agora Gate

Next to the library, the monumental gate in the form of Roman Triumphal Arch gives access to the Commercial agora. Built during the rule of Emperor Augustus by two former slaves. the gate has an inscription in Latin mentioning the name of these two freedmen, Mihridates and Mazeus who paid for the expenses of the work there. The inscription which had bronze letters gilded with the gold mentions the name of Augustus and his wife Livia and the names of two former slaves Mihridates and Mazeus who paid for the construction. Brother House Facing to the Celcus Library and Androclos Monumnet, the house of ill repute is situated right in the center of the city. Aldough, Ephesus didnot have a corrupted comnunity such as Corinth. Hovever like the other major harbors of the ancient times it had a brothel house. The terra cotta statue of God Bes and statue of Priapos, male god fertility inmarble both discovered in the peristyle house and advertisement carved on the pavements of the marble street support the idea that his was the house of ill repute in Ephesus.

Commercial Agora

This square area having 154 meters length on the each side was the commercial agora of Ephesus. Its main square is surrounded by row of coloums and shops. A great sun dial was discovered inthe middle of the marketplace. During the research carried out in the recent years, one of the earliest settlements in Ephesus was found. The Marble Street This impressive street which runs between the Celsus library and the theatre was lined with colonnade on the west side. One of the grafity which we see on the famous avenues shows a figure of a woman. It is suggested that this was one of advertisement showing the location of the house of ill repute. The grafity depicts the a woman sexual organ, a cross sign showing the crossing point of Curetes and Marble streets and footmark pointing the walking direction. Theatre The Ephesian theatre which could hold 24.000 people is the greatest Anatolian ancient theatre. The theatre which was first built during the Hellenistic Period was enlarged and renovated few times during the Roman times. Hellenistic theatre was a typical nature oriented theatre facing to harbour street and the harbour. The plays were performed on the the flat ground of orchestra area. while Spectators were enjoying the plays, they could also enjoy the harbour view. This theatre witnessed famous the riot of Silversmith when Ephesians, provoked by the silversmith rioted against Paul. The angry mob filled the theatre and protested Paul for couple of hours. Paul wanted to talk to these angry crowd, but his friends and asiarchs ( Roman official for imperial ceremonies) prevented him from doing so. Paul left Ephesus for Macedonia that specific day. Since it was winter time, it is believed that he went to Alexandria Troas where he had to wait couple of months to get ship to go to Greece.

Harbour Avenue and Harbor Area

This attractive street which started form the Great Roman theatre ended at the ancient harbour of Ephesus. Having two monumental gates at the two ends, the harbour street was lined with the shops and colonnades. Up to 4th century AD, a statue of a wild boar stood at the harbour street just reminding visitors about the foundation legend related to King Androclos and the wild boar. Four coloums standing just in the middle of this street carried the statues of four Gospel writers.

Visitors having time can visit the remains of Double Church of Virgin Mary where the Fourth Ecumenical Council met in 431 AD and Ephesians accepted the fact Virgin Mary was God Bearer or mother of God. This elongated formed Roman building was turned into a church during the Christian times. Harbour baths Another impressive monument in Ephesus is certainly the harbour Baths built during the time of Emperor Hadrian. Hadrian Temple Construction activities culminated to its apex when a great temple was built for Emperor Hadrianus in 129/130 AD . at the harbour area. This was the second temple for Emperor’s worshipping in Ephesus. Pausanias who visited Ephesus few years after the completion of the temple called the temple as Olimpieon. The temple which is built on stone foundations covering 85*57 meters was reaching the height of 25 meters. The size of the Corintian Coloums reaching to two metres gives excellent idea about the former splendour of the temple. Temple was raised to ground when its construction material were taken away and when the marble pieces were burned to optain lime. One of the galleries three aisles galleries was turned into a church during the 4th century. Temple, Fountain, University ?? The great complex covering 70*100 meters space, situated in the west of Agora was first identified as temple of Serapis because of its resemblance to a temple. During the recent years, it was suggested by some scholar that this could be the site of the University of Ephesus or Mouseion often mentioned by the ancient writers of the second century AD. It was a school of Medicine, Philosophy and rhetoric under the influence of Aristotle School and took Alexandria school as model. Here there were courses and contest for four main branches of the medicine: Diagnostic, surgery, production of surgical tools and medicinal literature. Famous Ephesian doctor Rufus helped for the construction of the University here gave lesson here. Sacred Road Sacred road which was used during the Artemis Festivals started from the Artemis Temple passby the Vedius Gynasium, the Stadium and Grand Theare. It followed the marble Road and Curetes Avenue and following the sacred ramp got to Roman Forum and passed through Magnesia gate and back to the temple. John Turtle Wood discovered the temple by folowing the sacred Road to Artemis Temple.