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Ephesus Ruins
 The
tour to the ruins of Antique Ephesus which was
reestablished in its current location by Lysimakhos, one
of the generals of Alexander the Great in 300 BC,
generally starts from the road leading to Ihe House of
Virgin Mary (Upper Gate). The ruins begin immediately
after the entrance and cover an area of approximately 20
km2
Magnesia Gate
The structure constitute the only city gate that has been
preserved to modem ages, and was probably built by the
Emperor Vespasian (69-79 AD),
Eastern Gymnasium
As the portrait statues of both the sophist Flavius
Domianus and his wife Vedia Phaedrina were found In the
Emperor's hall, the excavating archeologists think that
the palaestra was built for both. The Eastern Gymnasium,
which is one of the monumental structures in Ephesus, is a
complete structure with Its baths, paleistra (sports
area), its courtyard, lecture hall and emperor's hall.
Upper Baths
Upper baths was built in 1st century AD, Toilets and other
various sections belonging to the Roman Era were also
revealed in excavations. The adjacent buildings also bring
to mind the possibility that the building may as well be a
Gymnasium. It was built in accordance with the Roman Baths
architecture.
Aqueducts And Nympheum (Grand Fountain)
During the Ephesus excavations, many fountains from
various eras were revealed. The sources feeding water to
these fountains are quite far awav. In addition to these
fountains, a large amount of the water required was being
supplied from wells and cisterns The water of the grand
fountain located at the edge of the road in the south of
the Agora is known as the "Mamas Water" and is still
considered as a pleasure to drink The ruins of the
aqueduct seen on the 6th km of the Selcuk-Aydin road,
called the Sekstilius Pollio Aqueduct, used to carry water
on this line. The Nympheum was planned and built in
accordance with the road before it between 4 A.D. and 14
A.D. Later, the fountain underwent changes and look its
final look in 4th Century A.D.
State Agora
The structure is 160 m. in height and 73 m in width and
was built in the 1st century. It was where grand
commercial affairs under state control were carried out,
and the place was used for congregations, as well as for
political and religious ceremonies.
Basilica
The northern stoa of the Agora was transformed into a 160
m-high basilica in the late Augustus Period. The Basilica
has a wooden hip roof and three naves. The naves are
separated from each other by two rows of columns.
Odeon (Bouleterion)
Built for 1400 people, the structure hosts not only
concerts and theatrical plays but also the meetings of the
Municipal Board and conferences. It was built by Vedius
Antonius and his wife Papiana in 2nd Century A.D. The top
section of the building is closed.
Pretension (Municipal Palace)
 Together
with the Hestia alter, the Municipal Palace (Prytaneion)
also served as a sacred place of the city. A holy fire was
always on the altar. This neverdying fire has burned for
centuries in this place called 'The sacred place of Hestia
(the Goddess of Hearth)'. The two famous Artemis statues
exhibited in the Ephesus Museum were found in this
building. The structure was first built in the Lysimakhos
Period (3rd Century BC), Most of the ruins seen today
belong to the first Century. Later, two adjacent temples
were added to the complex. One of these temples were
dedicated to the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar and the other
was dedicated to the Roman Goddess (Dea Roma).
Water Palace
It was built by the Proconsul Laecanius Bassus in 80 BC.
It is called the "Water Palace" since it has a monumental
appearance. The fountain used to be adorned with
surrounding statues, which are now exhibited in the
Ephesus Museum.
Domitian Temple
It was built for Emperor Domitian (81-96). It is the first
temple dedicated to a Roman Emperor in Ephesus. With
dimensions of 50 x 100 m, the temple sits on a terrace.
This terrace now serves as the "Museum of Inscriptions".
There used to be a Lishaped altar in front of the temple.
Pollio Fountain
Built for C. Sextilius Pollio in 97 AD. There was a pond
in front of the fountain, decorated with the Odysseus and
Polyphemos statue group.
Memmius Monument
It is thought that the structure was built in the 1st
century AD in the period of Emperor Augustus, or according
to an epitaph, for Memmius, one of the grandchildren of
the Dictator Sulla. In the 4th Century AD, a grand
fountain was added to the northwestern side of the
monument.
Heracles Gate
The gate, located at the beginning of the Street of
Curettes extending to the west from the Memmius Monument,
has two stories; the first storey accommodates a
passageway with a wide arch, whereas the second storey is
lined with six columns
The Street Of Curettes
 The
Street was built in the name of the Curettes Union, which
played a significant role in the administration of the
city and which consisted of 6 members that were changed
annually. Behind the columns lining both sides of the
street were agoras, whereas the statues of the famous
Ephesians decorated the front of the columns. The street
is dated back to 4th or 5th century. Beneath the
marble-tile street was the largest sewer system of the
city
Traian Fountain
It was built for Emperor Traian (98-117). The fountain
dates back to 102-114 AD. In the mid section of the
two-storey structure, there is a colossal statue of
Emperor Traian.
Skolastikia Baths
The structure was first built at the end of the first
century, and was later combined with the "Love House" and
the "Toilets". It has three floors. The capacity of the
bath was enough to accommodate 1000 people. The other
floors of the bath included restrooms, libraries and
entertainment halls.
Latrina
On the western edge of the Skolastikia Bath is a narrow
street with a vault above. The portals of Latrina open to
this street. This structure served as the public toilets
of the city, with a square-shaped pond in the middle, and
a line of toilet stones. Right in front of the toilet
stones is a water duct. The floor is covered with mosaic
tiles.
Hadrian Temple
It is the most striking of the decorative structures in
Ephesus. It was dedicated to Emperor Hadrian in 118-138
A.D. On the fronton is a relief of Tyche, the goddess of
the city. Also on the frieze of the temple, the foundation
myth of Ephesus is depicted.
Oktogon
The octagonal monumental tomb situated on the edge of the
street right across the Hadrian Temple is set on a
rectangular pedestal. Surrounding the structure is a row
of columns featuring Corinthian capitals. The roof is
pyramidal. The tomb was found in 1929, and the skeleton
inside the tomb was identified to be of a 18-20 year old
girl.
The Byzantium Fountain
Next to the Oktogon, there are a number of Greek and Latin
inscriptions. These are the orders of the Emp.
Valentiniaus I. Valens and Gratianus regarding the State
Asia celebrations and the reconstruction of the city and
the city walls after the devastating earthquake at the end
of the 4th century. Adjacent to these inscriptions is
another monumental tomb planned in a horse-shoe fashion.
This monument was partially destroyed in the 5th Century
AD, during the erection of a fountain on the structure.
The fountain consists of a pond in the front and the basic
structure in the rear.
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