One of the best preserve Ancient Theatre and other Ephesus, Turkey Things to Do Tips

The grand theatre at Ephesus is the most prominent and impressive sight. It was built in the slopes of Mt Pion. It was originally constructed during Hellenistic period under the reign of Lysimachus in the 3rd century BC. It was he who relocated Ephesus to its present site.

During her history it was improved, enlarged and refined by the Roman emperors by the name of Claudius, Augustus, Nero and Trajan. The Emperor and rich Roman spectators gather at the theatre to listened musical concert, to be entertained by artist performing theatrical play, to see gladiators fighting to the death and animal fights. It was also used for political and religious gatherings.

St Paul the early Christian preached and sermon to the large audience at this theatre. He was preaching and condemning paganism

From bird�s eye view the theatre has semi circle shape. It has sitting sections for the spectators, the centre stage and section for the orchestra and actors. It can accommodate 17,000 to 25,000 excited spectators.

To improve the acoustics bronze and clay sounding vessels were placed around the auditorium. Even today the acoustic is still great and modern performances are still being held here. Artist like Elton John, Jose Carreras, Sting have actually performed in this theatre. I am not quite sure if today performances will damage the fragile theatre.

Go to the top of the theatre and you would be able to see bird�s eye view of ancient city of Ephesus.

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Things To Do: Augustus Gate

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Written by fachd

on Dec 20, 2007

Augustus Gate

by fachd , 3 more photos

Augustus gate was built around 40 AD. It is located next to the Celcus library which leads to the commercial Agora.

The gate was dedicated to the emperor Gaius Octavius Augustus, his wife Livia Drussila and son in law Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa who married Julia. Augustus was adopted by Julius Caesar.

The monument was built by two slaves by the name of Mazeus and Mythridates who later the emperor Augustus freed them.

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Address: Next to Celsus Library near commercial Agora

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Celsus Library: Library for the Roman

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Written by fachd

on Dec 21, 2007

Approaching the Celcus library from

Curetes street

In ancient time the Celcus Library is the second largest to the library in Alexandria in Egypt.

It was built in the 2nd century by Julius Aquila for his father Celsus Polemaeanus as a monumental tomb. Almost the whole remnant is built from marble.

The library contained 12,000 hand written scrolls probably from papyrus paper rolls, which most likely they imported from Egypt.

Looking from the front is a two storey buildings. Inside the building I can only see a single large hall.

Outside between the two marble columns is a fake statue of Sophia who is the goddess of wisdom, the statue of Arete who represents virtue and two others Episteme and Ennoia represent destiny and knowledge respectively. They say the original is in Vienna or the British museum.

The photos is taken from the front and inside the library

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Directions: The Celcus Library is at the foot of Curetes Street

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Hadrian Temple: Small edifice compare to others but well preserved

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Written by fachd

on Dec 21, 2007

Temple of Hadrian

This Corinthian style architecture is the Temple of Hadrian located in Curetes street. It is small in structure compare to other edifices but beautiful and well preserved. The temple was built by Quintilius around 118 AD to dedicate Emperor Hadrian and renovated in fifth century.

From the frontal view they are four Corinthian columns and inside the temple on top of the archway could be Medusa holding ornaments of acanthus leaves and her snake�s hair. Do not look at her you might turn to stone. On her opposite on the wall are other mythological figures.

Next to the temple there�s stairs which lead to the Scholastica baths which was created in the fourth century.

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Address: Curete Street

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Curettes Road: Interesting Street/Road

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Written by fachd

on Dec 22, 2007

by fachd , 3 more photos

Curetes is a street name after the semi god and semi goddesses and later referred to a class of priests. It is located in the middle of the city. You can walk the Curetes from Heracles Gate to Celcus Library with a distance of about one kilometre. The street is decorated by important monumental structures like Hercules, Trajan Fountain the Hadrian Temple or the statue without a head.

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Toilet: Latriana Public Toilet

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Written by fachd

on Dec 22, 2007

Roman Public Toilet

The latrina or public toilets was built in the first century AD. The toilet floor is paved with mosaics and in the middle of the floor it had a square pool. From the photos that I took you practically sitting next to each other, oh man you�ll smell each other business.

During Roman time the Latrina or public toilet is where the rich Roman congregate to discuss business while doing their business and their business flushed by running water underneath. In winter they use their slaves to warm the toilet seat. I wonder if the slaves had to wash their bottom. I think these rich Roman are sick people, interesting don�t you think.

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Things To Do: Trajan Fountain

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Written by fachd

on Dec 23, 2007

Trajan Fountain

by fachd , 2 more photos

You can find Trajan Fountain in Curetes street next to Hadrian Temple. The fountain was built in honour of Emperor Trajan (98 � 117AD) and his family.

The fountain was built from 102-104 A.D. It had pool with Corinthian columns and important statues of his family around it. The original statues were removed and can be seen at the Ephesus local museum.

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Address: Curetes Street

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Things To Do: Sextillius Pollio Fountain

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Written by fachd

on Dec 26, 2007

by fachd , 1 more photos

This photo is the Pollio Fountain. It was built around 93 AD - 97 AD by Ephesian Attilius during the reign of Augustus to commemorate the aqueduct builder Sextillius Pollio.

The water was brought to the fountain by using the aqueduct technology from the nearby river.

It is located not far from State of Agora. From I have seen the Pollio Fountain archway is higher, wider and larger compare to other archway in Ephesus.

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Things To Do: Memmius Monument

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Written by fachd

on Dec 26, 2007

by fachd , 2 more photos

The Memmius Monument was constructed in the first century AD during the reign of Augustus.

It located in Curete Street with amongst other great monuments. Memmius was the grandson of the Roman dictator Sulla.

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Odeon (small theatre): A Theatre with two functions

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Written by fachd

on Dec 27, 2007

The semicircle sunken stage