ARCHAEOLOGICAL
FINDINGS AT EPHESUS
As
we enter the archaeological site, the first thing we confront
is the Vedius Gymnasium. A wealthy Ephesian named Vedius
Antonious built this gymnasium in the 2nd Century AD.
It takes its name from the builder.
Following
the Vedius Gymnasium, toward the city lays the Stadium.
It measures 230 meters long, and 30 meters wide. It was
built along the northern base of Mt. Pion, its right side
sits on the natural rock base. Opposite the stadium on
the Acropolis hill stands a building dating from the 6th
Century BC. Northwest of this hill lies a temple dating
from 350 BC.
After
the Stadium, our eye catches the Byzantine Baths. These
baths date from the 6th Century AD. They also carry the
name of the "drunken baths". The building contains
many pottery-drinking vessels. Across from these building
are twin churches. These long and narrow churches are
named the Churches of the Virgin Mary.
These
churches are important to the Christian world as it was
here in 431 and 448 AD that the Third and Fourth Ecumenical
Councils met. In the second century AD this was the site
of a basilica where Ephesian monks were trained. In the
4th Century a church was built on the site of the basilica.
In
the 7th Century, from the apse of the church, a door was
opened to a second church. Thus the name Twin Churches
was given to the structure. Measuring 265 by 29.5 meters,
this church is accepted to be the first church in the
world dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
In
order to view the main archaeological site, we now enter
a magnificent columned marble road. To the left of the
path leading to this road lie the scant ruins of the Theater
Gymnasium. They belong to the 2nd Century AD. On our right,
as shown on the map, are the Harbor Gymnasium and the
Harbor Baths.
We
are now on the famous Arkadiane Street, the broad marble
street leading down to the harbor. This way, with its
still standing rows of columns along both sides of the
road, lies before us.
Let
us, like the ancient Ephesians, stroll of this lovely
street and re-live those days of the past glorious period
in this city. Dating from the Hellenistic Period, this
street was named after the Emperor Arkadiane. The street
is 11 meters wide and 530 meters long. On either side,
divided one from the other by columns, were covered perched
shops. These porches were 5 meters wide. They were built
for the pedestrian shoppers, therefore protecting them
from both the summer's heat and winter's cold. In the
6th Century AD, under the reign of Justinian, four columns
topped by statues were raised on this street. The street
opened to the harbor through a beautiful gate. The right
of the Arkadiane, dating from the 1st Century AD is the
Harbor Gymnasium.
It
is certain that one of the most beautiful structures of
Ephesus is its Theater. In an excellent state of preservation,
restorations have made it complete. In the northwest corner
stands a Hellenistic fountain with double Ionic columns.
In
the front of the theater, are rooms constructed of large
stones. They were obviously used as dressing rooms. In
earlier times, this structure was 8 meters long and three
stories high. Today, this area is used by the artists
of the Ephesus Festival. It was held each summer.
On
a long corridor are a group of rooms. Lets now enter the
theater and examine it closely. Built during the Hellenistic
period, and expanded by Claudius, the theater was completed
by the Roman Emperor Nero. The theater was entered via
two doors at the front and three at the back. In the year
54 AD, the Prophet Paul addressed the Ephesians from this
theater. It seated 25,000 persons, and the stage measured
25 by 40 meters. The stage wall was decorated with sculptures.
For improved visibility, the upper rows were set at a
very steep angle. Across from the theater our attention
is drawn to the famous Commercial Agora, and its surrounding
columns. The original structure was Hellenistic, but re-built
at the time of Augustus. On all four sides the agora was
surrounded by a twin columned, two-story stoa in Doric
style. Mazaeus and Mithridates erected the southwest gate
of the Agora, in honor of Livia, the wife of the Emperor
Augustus.
Next
to the gate was a dedication in gold leaf. Only the sockets,
which held the letters, remain today. The Agora was 110
meters square, floored in marble.
To
the south of the Agora stands the Celsus Library. The
library has been restored, using remnants found on the
site. It was built in the year 135 AD, by the Roman architect
Vitruoya. It was built on the order of Julius Aqiula,
son of Asian Consul Julius Celsus Polemaeanus. It was
built in the honor of his consul father. The building
measured 60.92 by 16.72 meters. On the outside it was
two-storied, but on the inside was a single salon rising
15 meters high. The salon was surrounded by three stories
of galleries. Many windows brought ample light to the
interior. A door reached through the middle of the back
wall of the library leads to the grave of Celsus.
Behind
the Celsus Library, to the west of the Agora, is the Temple
of Serapis. With 8 columns decorating the front, and 29
meters wide, this temple was built for the Egyptian god,
Serapis.
As
we move up the Marble Road, at the point where it joins
Curetes Street, we find one of the most interesting buildings
of Ephesus. This is the Brothel of Ephesus. On the Marble
Road itself can be seen a carved left foot, and a representation
of a beautiful woman. This is the most appropriate way
of advertising that ahead, on the left, could be found
ample beautiful women! A very interesting feature of these
many-roomed building is the mosaic portraits of the women
of the brothel on the floors. Even if covered by sand
when you visit, a brief sweep will reveal the mosaics
to you. Alas, only the portraits are revealed, as the
girls themselves belong to centuries long passed.
The
laughter-filled brothel of the past, now stands quietly
still. At the back of the Brothel were the public lavatories,
in a line, apparently facing the open air.
On
the right side of the road from the Brothel stands a Byzantine
Fountain, and an octagonal grave.
As
we continue up Curetes Street we approach a note-worthy
building on the left. This building, whose face has been
restored from remnants on the site, was the Temple of
Hadrian. The temple, dedicated to the Empreror Hadrian,
was built by P. Quintilius from 118 - 138 AD. In Corinthian
style, it incorporates a cella with an entrance. In the
entrance stand two circular Corinthian columns, and on
the sides two rectangular paye. The curved arch of the
pediment carries the bust of the Victory Goddess Tyche.
This structure, laced with marble, blends beautifully
with the marble roadway running before it.
From
what can be gathered from a sculpture found at the back
of the Temple of Hadria, a bath stood on the site. It
was built by a wealthy Ephesian woman named Scholastikia
in the year 400 AD. For this reason, the baths have been
given her name. On the right alone the road, on a slope,
are located the remains of houses which belonged to wealthy
Ephesians.
A
short distance ahead on our left is the Fountain of Trajan.
The fountain covers an area 5.2 by 11.9 meters. It is
two stories in height, fronted by a pool. The colossal
statue of Trajan rose to the height of the building, with
the waters entering the pool beneath. Other statues on
the two levels contributed to the beauty of the fountain.
Some of these sculptures are now housed in the Ephesus
Museum in Selcuk. The structure dates from the 2nd Century
AD.
At
the point where Curetes Street narrows through a Triumphal
Archway, we enter the Government Sector of the city. The
archway two Herakles reliefs are one on either side.
 |
Home
|
 |
Archaeological
Findings at Ephesus continued... |
 |
Back
to Western Anatolia Civilizations |
