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Izmir (Turkey)

Ancient Ephesus and the Terrace Houses

Duration: Half day

 

The Ionian colony is one of the largest open-air archaeological museums in the world. Traces of the Hellenistic, Roman and Early Christian period are scattered everywhere. Together with your tour guide, you will pass:

 

Highlights

The Magnesian Gate:

The original building was possibly erected in the Doric order with a passageway 3.70m wide and an almost square courtyard on the city side.

The Agora:

This site was not used for commerce but for business, it played an important role as a meeting place for the governmental discussions.

The Odeon:

With a capacity to seat 1500, this theater housed meetings of the Senate in addition to its standard theatrical performances.

The Library of Celsus:

The facade of the library has two-stories, with Corinthian style columns on the ground floor. The columns at the sides of the facade are shorter than those at the center, giving the illusion of the building being greater in size.

The marble-paved main Street of the Kouretes:

It is one of the three main streets of Ephesus. The street is named after legendary peoples from the Greek mythology and epic literature, the Curetes. The street in its current state has its appearance from the 4th century.

The Thermal Baths of Scholastica:

Built in the 1st Century and restored in the 4th Century by a wealthy Christian woman named Scholastica. This location was not only used to bathe but also to socialize and discuss the topics of the day.

The Great Theatre:

Built in the 4th century B.C. and could accommodate 24,000 spectators it is famous even today for its acoustics.

The Trajan’s Fountain:

The site was Constructed in around 104 C.E for the honour of Emperor Trajan. The pool of the fountain measured 20x10 meters, surrounded by columns and statues.

The Public Latrines:

Part of the Scholastica Baths, and built in the 1st Century AD. They were the public toilets of the city. An entrance fee for use was required.

The Houses of the Patricians:

Also known as the Houses of the Wealthy, these structures, were constructed according to the Hippodamian plan of the city in which roads transect each other at right angles. These Buildings give us insight into family life during the Roman period.

The Prytaneum:

The ruins of the complex date to the Augustan age. Religious ceremonies, official receptions and banquets were held herein. The sacred flame symbolizing the heart of Ephesus was kept constantly alight inside.

Temple of Hadrian:

The facade of the temple has four Corinthian columns supporting a curved arch with a relief of Tyche, goddess of victory. The pedestal with inscriptions in front of the temple, are the bases for the statues of the emperors between 293-305 CE.

Opposite Hadrian’s Temple, at the foot of the Bulbul hill and the covered part of the archaeological site, protected by the heat and natural elements lie

The Houses of Koressus (Terrace Houses):

In a state of excellent preservation, here lived the rich families of Ancient Ephesus. The oldest unearthed houses date since the 1st century B.C. and were two-storied and built based on city planning. They were equipped with “heating”, and hot and cold water.

The excursion is completed at the Covered Bazaar of Kusadasi with some free time for shopping and… bargaining for carpets, jewelry, leather and other souvenirs.


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