Fun things to do in Ephesus

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This victory arch with reliefs of Hercules is located at the junction of the Street of the Curetes with secondary streets. The monument was constructed towards the end of the 4th century, but no other parts of it have been found.

If the structure to be completed; it would appear to resemble the Arch of Constantine in Rome. The reliefs of Hercules were originally made in the 2nd century, and were brought here towards the end of the 4th century from another structure.

You can watch my 2 min 57 sec Video clip Ephesus Part III with Mozart – Allegro From Divertimento in Dmaj.

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This is one of the finest monuments in Curetes Street. The fountain was built in honor of the Emperor Trajan in the 2nd century AD. It is located right to the Hadrian Temple.

The pool was 20 m. long and 10 m. wide. It has been partially restored. Originally the pool was flanked by columns and statuary. The facade overlooking the pool contained a colossal statue of Trajan in the centre. Parts of the torso were also found during excavation.

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The Pollio Fountain is located to the south of the State Agora, across the Odeum. It was built in 97 A.D by the rich Ephesian Pollio and his family.
The water was brought to the fountains of Ephesus from three main sources through aqueducts and distributed from fountains by a branching system of baked clay pipes.

The sources were Kencherios (42km) at Kusadasi, Camlyk village stream of Marnas (15km), and the Cayster River (20km).Water was free of charge by the city in the public fountains. Also they provided refreshment in hot summer days for the streets.

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The Prytaneion is located behind the basilica and to the left of the Odeum. Religious ceremonies, official receptions and banquets were held there. The sacred flame symbolizing the heart of Ephesus was kept constantly alight in the Prytaneion.
The construction of the building dates to the 3rd century B.C, but the ruins of the complex dates to the Augustan age.

Four columns are in the front of the building. A courtyard surrounded by a portico is located beyond the columns. On the north is the center of the building, the ceremonial hall, and its side rooms.

You can watch my 3 min 09 sec Video clip Ephesus Slide-show Part I with D’Angelo – Autumn Romance music.

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The Roman Basilica is located in the State Agora. It has columns, most of which were restored and installed here. It was constructed in three sections during the reign of Augustus over a gallery with a single hall, which was located during the Hellenistic period.
The Ionic columns in the Basilica are adorned with bulls' head figures dating to the 1st century A.D.
It was destroyed by an earthquake in the middle of the Fourth Century AD.

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It's better to begin your excursion around Ephesus from the south. First you will see when enter the site from the south entrance will be a large structure built of cut blocks of marble known as the Baths of Varius.

It was built with its north and east walls carved from natural outcroppings of rock in the 2nd century AD. The 40 meters long corridor covered with mosaics from the 5th century is in evidence.

It has three sections, frigidarium (cold water), tepidarium (warm water) and caldarium (hot water). The excavations have not been completed yet.

You can watch my 3 min 33 sec Video clip Ephesus Part I with J.Bach – Air From Suite No.3 in R Minor music.

On Curetes Street, a marble slab is carved with a left foot, a heart and the bust of a woman. It means that if you follow the direction given by the foot, you will find females that will please your heart (sorry, this is what is carved in the stone !), which means this was the advertisement for the city brothel.

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The broad marble thoroughfare from the Great Theater to the former site of the Harbor is usually the last stop for visitors today, but for most arriving at the peak of the city's influence and wealth this was the main entrance. 600 yds long and over 30 yds wide, marble, with one side lined by huge gymnasia and baths and the other by marble covered pathways and stores, it must truly have been an imposing site, especially with the Great Theater as a backdrop. Today only columns have been erected along the great entranceway. The final course was determined during the 1st C BC during the reign of Emperor Arcadius, hence the term " shopping arcade ".

Ephesus was, at the time of Christ, probably the fourth greatest city in the world after Rome, Alexandria Egypt, and Antioch. One Roman writer called it the "Light of Asia". All senior governing officials coming to Asia from Rome were required to land in Ephesus and proceed up this highway. Undoubtedly, the Apostle Paul arrived in Ephesus by the same route. Ephesus was also the highway to Rome, for business, government, and pleasure. During the period when Asian Christians were deported to Rome to be slaughtered by the lions, they travelled through Ephesus and down this road to the harbor, called by some " The Highway of Martyrs".

Arcadian Street is not ' how you leave ' but another important site. Today's visitor footsteps echo a long and important past.