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Ephesus is considered one of the greatest outdoor museums of Turkey if not the world.

Odeon

The Odeon is a small theatre with a stage, seating areas and a place for the orchestra. First it was used for meetings of the Senate. Then it was utilized as a concert hall for performances.

It had the capacity to hold 1500 spectators.

Baths of Varius

The ruins of the Baths of Varius date to the Roman Empire.  The Baths were important to Roman society.  Not only were the baths used to refresh but many bathers engaged in philosophical and political discussions.

The Baths had three sections; the caldarium (hot section), the tepidarium (warm section), and the frigidarium (cold section).

Domitian Temple

Domitian Temple was the first temple built in the name of an emperor.

Hercules Gate

Hercules Gate is so called because of the relief of Hercules on it. Hercules looks like he is wrestling with the Nemean lion, whose skin is too thick to kill it. Hercules wrestled the lion to the ground and finally killed it by thrusting his arm down its throat to choke it. Hercules was the god of power and strength.

Only two of the columns remain today. The Heracles Gate is narrow which seems to have made the street into a pedestrian area.

 Octagon

Octagon was a vaulted burial chamber.  The interpretation is that the Octagon is a monument to Prolemy Arsinoe IV, the youngest sister of Cleopatra VII, who was murdered in Ephesus.

Curetes Street

Curetes Street runs from the Heracles Gate to the Celsus Library.

Temple of Hadrian

The Temple was dedicated to Emperor Hadrian.  Inside, just above the door is a carving of Medusa.

There are friezes throughout the temple: Androklos killing a boar; Dionysus in a procession; Apollo; Athena, goddess of the moon; Androkles and Herakles, wife and son of Theodosius and Athena.  The friezes on the temple are copies and the originals can be seen in the Ephesus Museum.

Celsus Library

This library is one of the most amazing structures in Ephesus. It was a tomb for Celsus Plemaeanus, who was governor of the province of Asia. The grave of Celsus was beneath the ground floor with the statue of Athena on top of it.
The bookcases had double walls behind them to prevent damage to scrolls. The scrolls were kept in niches in the walls.  The library could hold over 10,000 scrolls. It was the third largest library in ancient times after Alexandra and Pergamum.  It was also the third richest. The statues in the niches of the columns are copies of the originals.  They symbolize valor (Arete), intelligence (Ennoia), knowledge (Episteme) and wisdom (Sophia).

The story is every visitor to Ephesus brought a scroll to the library as a gift.

Great Theater

The Great Theater is another amazing structure in Ephesus. It has the capacity to seat 25,000 people.

The Theater was used for concerts and plays as well as religious, political and philosophical discussions. The Theater was also used for gladiator and animal fights.

This may have been the place the Apostle Paul taught in.

If you go to Ephesus, you will overwhelmed by the scope and majesty of the ruins as well as the heat.  There is very little shade so bring water, sunscreen, and an umbrella or hat.

Other Related Articles:

Basilica of St. John

House of Virgin Mary: Ephesus, Turkey

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