Ephesus

Ephesus is an extensive ancient Greek and Roman city located near the modern town of Selçuk in İzmir Province, Turkey, famous for its well-preserved public buildings and urban plan. The site reached its height under Roman rule in the 1st and 2nd centuries CE and remains one of the region’s most important classical archaeological complexes.

The site includes the ornate facade of the Library of Celsus (rebuilt in the 2nd century CE) and the vast Great Theatre, which seats roughly 25,000. Other visible highlights include the colonnaded Curetes Street, public baths, shops, and the richly decorated Terrace Houses with mosaics and frescoes dating mainly to the early Roman period.

Ephesus began as an Archaic Greek settlement and later became the Roman provincial capital of Asia. Major construction phases date from the Hellenistic period through the Roman Empire; the city declined after Roman times because of harbour silting and repeated earthquakes, and it was largely abandoned in the Byzantine period.

The ruins sit adjacent to the modern town of Selçuk, a short drive from the harbour plain; the site is about 80 kilometres south of the city of İzmir and lies on the Aegean coastal plain with the mountains behind it.

• Highlights: Most visitors come to view the reconstructed façade of the Library of Celsus and the adjacent Great Theatre, which together form the iconic central axis of the site.
• Practical tip: The archaeological site is spread across a large area; wear comfortable shoes since the main excavated zone extends for over a kilometre between major monuments.

What to See #

• Library of Celsus: Facade largely rebuilt in the 2nd century CE; original library held scrolls and the facade is about 16 metres high.
• Great Theatre: Open-air Roman theatre carved into the slope with an estimated capacity of about 25,000 spectators and excellent acoustics.
• Terrace Houses: Residential quarter with well-preserved mosaic floors and frescoes, mainly dating to the 1st century BCE and 1st century CE; access is via a raised walkway.
• Curetes Street: The cultic street and main thoroughfare of the city, lined with colonnades and public buildings, connecting the theatre to the harbour area.
• Temple of Artemis (nearby): Site of the Temple of Artemis lies near modern Selçuk; the temple was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World but little remains at the original footprint.