Ephesus

Ephesus was one of the largest cities of Roman Asia Minor and a key source for the eastern urban world of the empire. Its archaeological importance lies in streets, terrace houses, theatre, Library of Celsus, agora, baths, temple areas, inscriptions and a huge body of sculpture.

Archaeological complex

Roman Ephesus was a capital and harbour city of the province of Asia, although shoreline and harbour changed through silting. Marble streets, Curetes Street, theatre, agora, library and terrace houses show the city as a setting for processions, trade, elite housing and public memory.

Ephesus is visible as a major eastern city with streets, terrace houses, library, theatre, agora, harbour axis and temple zones. Excavation photographs help distinguish restored facades from stratigraphic evidence in residential quarters and workshops.

Ephesus is visible as a major eastern city with streets, terrace houses, library, theatre, agora, harbour axis and temple zones. Excavation photographs help distinguish restored facades from stratigraphic evidence in residential quarters and workshops.

Finds and material setting

Finds from Ephesus include inscriptions, statues, mosaics, wall painting, domestic utensils, coins, glass, pottery and water-supply traces. The terrace houses are especially important because they provide an elite domestic context in which architecture, images, furniture traces and small finds are tied to specific rooms.

Visual and archaeological evidence is useful here as a check on the prose: it connects visible walls, layout, finds and museum objects with the historical setting. Main evidence groups:

• terrace houses, theatre, library, agora, streets and harbour axis;
• frescoes, mosaics, inscriptions, sculpture, pottery and craft material;
• evidence for the cult of Artemis and imperial cult;
• Late Antique rebuilding and Christian monuments.

Visual and archaeological evidence is useful here as a check on the prose: it connects visible walls, layout, finds and museum objects with the historical setting. Main evidence groups:

• terrace houses, theatre, library, agora, streets and harbour axis;
• frescoes, mosaics, inscriptions, sculpture, pottery and craft material;
• evidence for the cult of Artemis and imperial cult;
• Late Antique rebuilding and Christian monuments.

Interpretation and limits

Ephesus can easily become a set of famous facades. The article should instead show layers: Hellenistic inheritance, Roman capital phase, late antique rebuilding and harbour change. Without this the city looks static, while its archaeology shows constant transformation.

Related topics

• Roman Archaeological Sources
• Roman Empire
• Roman streets
• Thermae
• Theatre
• Roman temples

Literature

• F. Hueber. Ephesos: Gebaute Geschichte. Mainz, 1997.
• UNESCO World Heritage: Ephesus.
• Austrian Archaeological Institute: Ephesos excavation publications.