Archaeology
EphesosEphesusPlace descriptionThe earliest foundation of Ephesus can be traced back to the archaic period (900-560BC). During this period, the city played an important role in the Ionian Renaissance and produced famous philosophers and poets such as Heraclitus and Hipponax. The period was ended after the city’s subjection under Croesus the Lydian king, and it marked the beginning of the Graeco-Lydian period in 560BC. After Croesus’ invasion, the archaic temple of Artemis was erected, but it was set fire in 356BC. Alexander the Great offered to rebuild it in 344BC but his piety was rejected by the Ephesians who insisted to rebuild it with their own funds. The temple of Artemis was one of the largest sanctuaries in the Hellenistic world and also the first one totally built with marbles. The Commercial Agora was also built during this period with subsequent enlargement during the time of Augustus, Nero and Caracalla. The Greco-Lydian period ended in 290BC during the occupation of the city by Lysimachus, who was one of the successors of Alexander. After 281BC, Ephesus fell into the control of the Seleucids. After the Roman defeat over the Seleucids in 189BC, Ephesus was given to Pergamum but later it came under the direct rule of the Roman Republic in 133BC. A colossal head of Mark Antony was also discovered in the upper civic agora. He and Cleopatra might have established an Egyptian temple located in the northeast corner of the civic agora, which was linked with the Curetes Street. The head of Ammon and the bell of a sistrum were also uncovered there. Within the precinct of the temple of Artemis, a sanctuary of Roma and Augustus was built. The sanctuary was also depicted on Ephesian cistophori coins. Augustus and Tiberius built the aqueducts of the city. The Library of Celsus was dedicated to Augustus, Agrippa, Livia and Julia. Nero rebuilt the stadium at Ephesus but simultaneously he sacked the statues of the city for his own collection. A large temple was erected to Domitian. But after the emperor was assassinated, his statue was probably destroyed by the Ephesians. The great harbour gymnasium was built during Domitian’s reign and it contained baths. Verulan Hall was another gymnasium, and it was decorated with 13 kinds of marbles sponsored by a high priest during the reign of Hadrian. The Vedius gymnasium contained a swimming pool. There was also a Varius Bath in the civic agora. A nymphaion was donated by Trajan and it was adorned with colossal statues. Hadrian made the city as the imperial capital of Asia in AD215. The games called Hadrianea were sponsored in his honour. The city second neocorate temple was dedicated to the emperor in AD129. The theatre, initially built in the 2nd century BC, was enlarged by Claudius and Nero, and was further expanded during the 2nd century AD. |