The Flickr Izmirprovince Image Generatr

The Fountain of Trajan, or Trajan’s Nymphaeum, was built in honour of the Roman emperor Trajan as both a monumental ornament and to supply the city with fresh water brought by an aqueduct from nearby mountain.

Construction of the fountain began in 109 AD and was completed by 113 AD when Emperor Trajan enlarged the harbour at Ephesus.

The central pool is surrounded by Corinthian order columns and statues. Statues of Aphrodite, Dionysus, Satyr, and the Emperor’s family decorated the outer edges of the fountain pool and a colossal statue of Emperor Trajan stood at its centre, from which water flowed into the fountain. Trajan’s statue, twice the size of other statues around him, has now been partially reconstructed (feet only).

Ephesus, Türkiye #6556
12 June 2024

The Scholastikia Baths extended over three storeys and were built in the 1st century, and reparied many times until the end of the 4th century.

The baths lost their popularity after the Romans, and although they were completely forgotten by the Middle Ages, they were popularised again by the Seljuk and Ottoman Turks.

Ephesus, Türkiye #6561
12 June 2024

The units of the western complex of terrace houses are decorated with frescos and ancient mosaic floors.

Ephesus, Türkiye #6638
12 June 2024

The entrance archway to the Scholastikia Baths.

The baths extended over three storeys and were built in the 1st century, and reparied many times until the end of the 4th century.

In the apodyterium, the rich used to disrobe; in the sudatorium, they used to sweat; and in the caldarium, the servants used to massage and wash their masters. Before leaving the baths, they would swim and refresh themselves in the pool of the frigidarium.

Ephesus, Türkiye #6558
12 June 2024

The western complex of the Terrace Houses of Ephesus consists of five luxury villas with perfectly preserved inner courtyards. The units of these houses are decorated with frescos and comprise the largest collections of ancient mosaic floors. Most of these well-preserved mosaics date between the 1st and 3rd century AD. Generally, geometrical patterned mosaics made from small black and white stones bordered depictions of figures, incluuding Triton, Dionysos, Medusa, Nereide, and a lion.

Ephesus, Türkiye #6627
12 June 2024

Looking over the ruins of Ephesus towards the Celsus Library.

Ephesus, Türkiye #6586
12 June 2024

The units of the western complex of terrace houses are decorated with frescos and ancient mosaic floors. Most of these well-preserved mosaics date between the 1st and 3rd century AD. Generally, geometrical patterned mosaics made from small black and white stones bordered depictions of figures, incluuding Triton, Dionysos, Medusa, Nereide, and a lion.

Ephesus, Türkiye #6634
12 June 2024

The Memmius Monument is one of the monuments decorating the Square of Domitian at Ephesus. It was erected in the first century in honour of Memmius, grandson of Roman general and later dictator, Sulla.

The memorial was decorated with carvings and a fountain was later added in front.

Ephesus, Türkiye #6525
12 June 2024

One of the largest villas of the western complex was a two-storeyed house dating between the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. The total living space of this house was nine hundred square meters with twelve rooms on the ground floor. In the habitable area of this house, there is an entrance hall, a courtyard, a bathroom with a bathtub, and a kitchen decorated with ornamental floor mosaics and colorful wall frescos depicting Heracles, Eros, a peacock, Ariadne, and floral motifs.

Ephesus, Türkiye #6624
12 June 2024

The western complex of the Terrace Houses of Ephesus consists of five luxury villas with perfectly preserved inner courtyards and colorful wall frescos depicting Heracles, Eros, a peacock, Ariadne, and floral motifs.

Ephesus, Türkiye #6628
12 June 2024

The Library of Celsus was built between 110–135 AD as a monument to Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus.

There are four female statue replicas placed in the façade niches - this one represents Arete (Virtue).

Ephesus, Türkiye #6681
12 June 2024

The Library of Celsus was built between 110–135 AD as a monument to Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus.

There are four female statue replicas placed in the façade niches - this one represents Ennoia (Insight).

Ephesus, Türkiye #6682
12 June 2024

The western complex of the Terrace Houses of Ephesus consists of five luxury villas with perfectly preserved inner courtyards. The units of these houses are decorated with frescos and comprise the largest collections of ancient mosaic floors. Most of these well-preserved mosaics date between the 1st and 3rd century AD and either depicted figures or geometrical patterns made from small black and white stones.

Ephesus, Türkiye #6661
12 June 2024

The units of the western complex of terrace houses are decorated with frescos and ancient mosaic floors. Most of these well-preserved mosaics date between the 1st and 3rd century AD. Generally, geometrical patterned mosaics made from small black and white stones bordered depictions of figures, incluuding Triton, Dionysos, Medusa, Nereide, and a lion.

Ephesus, Türkiye #6635
12 June 2024

View of Celsus Library and Marble Road, Ephesus.

Türkiye #6566
12 June 2024

Inside the Temple of Hadrian, it is thought that the female figure in this semi-circular relief may be Medusa.

The temple is one of the best-preserved ruins in Ephesus. Unearthed in 1956, reconstruction began shortly afterwards using original parts supplemented with modern pieces to form the appearance of a full temple. Reconstruction was completed in 2014.

Ephesus, Türkiye #6568
12 June 2024

Located between the Agora and the Celsus Library, the Gate of Mazeus and Mthridates has three passages like a Roman triumphal arch. Wide and strong pilasters between the passages support the arch, and the frieze on top of the 16 metre-high arch.

Mazeus and Mithridates were slaves of Emperor Augustus and his family. When they were emancipated, they built this gate in either in 4 or 3 B.C. and dedicated it to Augustus, his wife Livia, his daughter Julia and his son-in-law Agrippa. This gate is sometimes referred to as the Augustus Gate.

The frieze consists of three sections and is richly decorated. The attic walls are found on top of the frieze. The main inscription of the gate is seen on the attics located above the side passages and is in Latin.

Western inscription: To Emperor Caesar, Augustus, son of a god, the high priest, twelve times consul, twenty times tribune, and Livia, wife of Caesar Augustus, Mazeus (dedicates this arch).

Eastern inscription: To Marc Agrippa, son of Lucius, three times consul, emperor, six times tribune and daughter of Julio Caesar Augustus, our patron Mithridates (dedicates this arch).

Ephesus, Türkiye #6678
12 June 2024

The western complex of the Terrace Houses of Ephesus consists of five luxury villas with perfectly preserved inner courtyards. The units of these houses are decorated with frescos and comprise the largest collections of ancient mosaic floors. Most of these well-preserved mosaics date between the 1st and 3rd century AD and either depicted figures or geometrical patterns made from small black and white stones.

Ephesus, Türkiye #6657
12 June 2024

View of Celsus Library from the hillside Terrace Houses.

The library is 21 metres wide and 17 metres high, with the exterior adorned with marble columns and reliefs of mythological scenes. The bottom floor served as a reading room, and the two higher floors were used for storage.

The structure stood for over 800 years until it was destroyed by a series of earthquakes along with much of the city of Ephesus in 415 AD. Restoration began after excavations in 1895.

Ephesus, Türkiye #6564
12 June 2024

The Library of Celsus was built between 110–135 AD by Gaius Julius Aquila as a monument to his father, Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus, a wealthy proconsul of Asia Minor and a notable philosopher in his own right.

There are four female statues placed in the façade niches representing (L-R) Sofia (Wisdom), Arete (Virtue), Ennoia (Insight), and Episteme (Knowledge) - each of these are replicas.

Ephesus, Türkiye #6679
12 June 2024