The Temple of Hadrian one of the most dazzling of the commemorative structures in Ephesus was built on the Path of the Curetes.
With a building of a Temple dedicated to an emperor, Ephesus, during the reign of Hadrian received the Epithet of Neokoros for the second time.
A closer examination of the Temple friezes, reveal scenes of great vibrancy and vivacity.
These particular friezes are replicas of the originals on display in the Ephesus Museum. The first frieze to the left depicts Androculos, the mythical founder of the Ephesus in pursuit of a Boar.
The second pediment in the interior of the temple features a Medusa-like female figure while the Temple Doors have been adorned with motifs symbolizing fertility and prosperity.
According to legend, Androculos the leader of the Ionians set sail over the Aegean hoping to establish a city at the bay of the Little Meander River, however the consent of the Gods was required for such adventure, so Androculos approached the Oracle at the Temple of Apollo and asked where his city was to be founded.
The Oracle replied: A fish shall give you the sign and a boar shall show you the way. The frieze you see now is a depiction of his pursuit of the boar that showed him the way. A statue of Androculos slaying the Boar can be seen in the Izmir Archaeology Museum.
The second frieze depicts the Gods and the Amazons while the 3rd the frieze to the right shows the Amazons and Dionysian Procession.
Athena, Selene, the Goddess of the Moon, Apollo, Androculos, Herakles can be seen in the forth section of the frieze.
One of the largest complexes in Ephesus, the Baths of Varius had entrances on the Corobanthies Path and on the Bath's Road.
Why the Baths are called as Skolastika Baths? Upon entering the building you first walk into what was the changing area, the Statue you see inside is of Skolastika and affluent local lady who have had contributed to the renovations of the baths.
The bath complex was built in the traditional manner.
Unlike the traditional Single-section Turkish Bath near Kusadasi Port, Baths of Skolastika were Consisting of a Frigidarium or a Cold Area, a Tepidarium or warm area, a Caldarium a Hot Area, and a Suditorium a Sauna type section. After this section, visitors would enter to the Suditorium and then move on to the Caldarium to wash and bathe, after which one proceeded to the warm section where one could chat and converse with others. The final stage was Frigidarium where one cooled down in the pool.
If you look closely you will see the sunken area in the ground where the cold pool would have been located.
The baths were fitted with a Hypocaust, a network of clay pipes designed to heat the room by circulating warm air through the walls and along the floor.
The baths was heated in the furnace rooms which could be entered from the academy road.
The baths were not solely a place for washing but a place where one could meet others and spend many hours relaxing and discussing politics, philosophy and other important affairs.
During the Roman era in particular, they were very much in demand.
Some baths had free admission so that the poorest citizens could make use of the facilities. This monument is believed to be that of Arsinoe, the murdered sister of Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt. On our Ephesus Tours, this story is told like a scene from a soap opera. According to certain sources Arsionoe was killed while seeking refuge in the Temple of Artemis in the year 41 BC. The same year Cleopatra and her lover Marcus Antonius arrived in Ephesus. Arsinoe is said to have opposed Cleopatra's rule while her elder sister dreamt a uniting Egypt and Rome into a single global empire Arsinoe sought such an eventuality as Egyptian surrender to the authority of Rome. When Marcus Antonius and Cleopatra defeated Arsinoe's forces, she was exiled to Ephesus but Cleopatra later came to view Arsinoe as a thread and thus had her sister murdered by her Roman lover. The skaleton discovered in the unadorned coffin in the central vault has been identified as that of a 15 to 16 year old female. According to recent analysis, the bones date back to period in which Arsinoe is said to have been murdered. Furthermore the Tomb is unlikely any other structure in Ephesus but has striking parallels with the lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and an Iconic structure in Egypt during the reign of Cleopatra.
Indeed the Octagon can be seen almost as a miniature of the famous lighthouse. The area directly beneath the Temple of Hadrian and the Baths of Varius was where the city's public latrines were located. From the marks on the threshold and on the side walls we can conclude that the entrance consisted of Double Doors. The public Latrines served an important function in ancient times as it was a place where one could socialize as well as perform one's natural duties. Many important topics were discussed here from trade to politics which is why those who may have had a private latrine in their home would still frequent the public bath house. The latrines were designed for communal use without any dividing walls or panels between the users. The waste products were carried away to the sea by an underground duct while the long basin in front of the toilet seats was used for washing. Mosaics decorated the floor of this covered latrine where a square open basin stood center.
his Path in the center of the city takes it's name from the guardians of Artemis, the Corobanties also known as the Curetes.
The Path of the Corobanties stretches from the Gate of the Heracles to the Library of Celsus.
The Curetes of the Temple of Artemis consisted of 9 individuals, working under the auspices of the Prytaneum or City Council during the Roman Era, they soon emerged as among the most importantly annually elected religious officials.
And so Ask the Curetes to make up obnoxious noise with their weapons and thus distract Hera from the birth.
These semi-divine mythological creatures later gave their name to one of the larger priestly cast in Ephesus.
The Path existed in the Ancient Era, too.
As can be drawn from the fact that it was also a part of path for festivities during the Artemis Celebration.
The picture should not misguide you because this Path is mostly packed with tourist crowds, and that's where nearly all ephesus tourist guides recommend their guest to give a photo break for their guests to have their iconic Ephesus shots.
An elaborate sewage system runs beneath the path's marble foundations.
Porticoes and shelters that protected travelers from the sun and rain stood on the upper section of the pathway. In front of every column on this upper section a pedestal with inscriptions can be found on which statues honoring individuals that contributed to the welfare of the city were erected.
At the lower end of the street various public buildings were built with their facades facing the Road.
Columned porticoes with mosaic flooring dominated this part of the Path. Shops, workshops, restaurants, houses and other structures lie in the route to these porticoes.
The Trajan Fountain is one of the 3 outstanding fountains in Ephesus.
It was built in honor of Emperor Trajan by one of the City's most distinguished citizens. Such monumental fountains were at great importance in the ancient world.
Fountains were also sources of prestige for the city and the authorities would work hard to create even grander and more attractive fountains to increase their reputation.
Usually located in the busiest areas, these fountains with their columns and opulent sculptures are counted among the most stunning structures of the ancient world.
One of the water canals of Ephesus, runs into this stunning two-teared fountain which shows how already existing aqueducts were incorporated when the structure was initially built.
One of the other water canals of Ephesus arrived to the city from a 17 kms. distance along with a 42 kms. Aqueduct line, called the Pollio Aqueduct. One of the most important things that distinguishes our private ephesus tours is that the travelers also get a chance to see the remains of this aqueduct with the help of our ephesus tour guides.
A larger than life marble statue of Trajan once stood in the center of the fountain, if you look closely you will notice a globe and a fragment of a foot where the statue once stood.
The globe at the feet of the emperor symbolized his rule over the earth. Like the theater the facade of the fountain was decorated with statues, many of which you can see in the hall of the fountains in Ephesus museum.
The Gate symbolized the separation of Public Buildings in the lower sections of the city from the Administrative and religious buildings located on the city's higher ground.
Today only the pillars from the Side walls of the gate remain. On both pillars you can see depictions of Heracles, or Hercules as he is called in Roman mythology wearing a lion's hide.This ornamental gate was the entrance to the Curetes Path via the Domitianus Square.
Driven mad by Hera, the wife of Zeus, Heracles slew his own children and was ordered to complete 12 Tasks to attorn for his sins.
Upon successful completion of the tasks Heracles attained immortality.
When you see this amazing gate, you can understand that you are almost made it to the half of your walking tour of ephesus ancient city.
This lead to the Path eventually being closed to chariots in the 5th Century and becoming a pedestrian walk way.
One of the tasks assigned him was to slaying of the terrifying Nemean Lion.
Because of the impenetrability of the Lion's fur, Heracles had no choice but to enter it's den and strangle it to death with his bare hands. After which he skinned the lion and donned it's hide. The Slaying of the Nemean Lion is one of the most popular and significant of the 12 Tasks incapsulating as it does the awesome strenght of Heracles. As well as architectural monuments a number of fountains were also built in Ephesus. Some of these were built in the name of the emperor, others were built to honor those who had contributed to the welfare of the city. the fountain of Hydreion beside the statue of Memmius, is one of the most outstanding fountains in the city. This area formed a small square in the corner of the path of the Corobanthies and was a resting place for travelers. The fountain was originally built during the reign of Emperor Augustus, to similize the unity of the Roman Empire statues of Dioclation, Maximian, Constantine and Galerius were later added to the structure. Two of the Pedestals of these statues can still be seen. Similar statues of these emperors can be seen a little further on in front of the stunning Hadrian Temple. This spectacular structure had three separate water basins. 4 of the glorious corinthian style columns can still be seen in front of the fountain.
This relief of Goddess Nike at the Domitianus Square is considered to have been a decorative element on the second story of the Heracles Gate on the Part of the Curetes.
Meaning victory in Greek, the Goddess was generally depicted as the young winged girl descending swiftly from the skies to bring victory.
Remaining faithful to this archetype presentation in this relief Nike is seen clutching a palm branch on her right hand and a laurel wreath on her left, being a symbol of Victory Nike was a frequently used motif in architectural and decorative structures.
During antiquity Roman Emperors were worshiped as Gods.
Such a cult created unity across the empire and overcame linguistic, religious and cultural differences. At the same time it symbolized the divine protection of such a union. Like many other cities in Anatolia, Temples dedicated to the emperor were also erected in Ephesus.
This created a competition between the cities, who sought to gain prestige through such a title.
Ephesus was granted the Neokoros Title 4 times end thus gained a preeminence status in comparison with other cities such as Smyrna and Pergamon. Many of the monumental structures in Ephesus thus date back to the Roman period.
Emperor Domitianus was known to be a proud and cruel leader while many other cities trembled and withered under his wrath the city of Ephesus constructed both a spectacular temple in his honor with an immense 7 meters statute on a grand base in this base leading to the entrance. Indeed the statue was so vast, it was reported to be visible from far away.
After the death of the Emperor, the people of the city free at last of his tyranny had his name removed from official inscriptions and had the statute broke down.
The large head and an arm of the statue are on display on Ephesus Museum.
Built in late antiquity and the structure central to the early history of Christianity this was the first church to be built in honor of the Virgin Mary and is famous with the Ecumenical Council convened here in the year 431 AD.
Emperor Theodisius II, ordered the convening of the 3rd Ecumenical Council, the first two being in Nicaea in 325 AD, and Constantinople in 381 AD. And it was attended by the Archbishop of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch and Ephesus as well as an emissary of the Pope.
Issues fundamental to the Nature of Christianity were debated and many are heated exchange took place over the course of the assembly, which lasted a full 3 months.
The end result was the refutation of Nestorius' notion of Christ and the assertion and declaration of Christ as the Son of God.
After leaving Cyprus, John the Apostle and Virgin Mary are believed to have arrived in Ephesus where they lived and died.
Certain sources states that John the Apostle composed large parts of the Bible here. While being led to the Hill of Golgotha to be crucified Christ entrusted Mary to the care of his most beloved disciple, John the Apostle.
In the phase of persecution the Christians by Herod the Great or the I, John the Apostle and Mary left Jerusalem for Western Anatolia, both to escape persecution in Judea and in order to promulgate the new religion amongst the idolaters.
In this way densely populated cities of Western Anatolia helped spread Christianity to the West and the Roman world making Ephesus a major center of the new religion.
The Road between the Prytaneum and the Square of Domitianus was known as the Sacred Walkway.
It lead to the Harbor where Ships would sail to these Island of Delos. In the Classical Period this Island was considered birth Place of Artemis. An Annual festival was held on Delos, with various performances celebrating and reenacting the the birth of the Goddess.
At the foot of the Slope, the Two figures carved on the Pedestals are Asclepius, the God of Medicine and Healing and Hermes a mystery of the Gods.
Hermes is depicted as naked and holding a Ram's horn in one hand and a Staff in the other.
A Three Legged copper pitcher known as a tripod used in drinking ceremonies is depicted on the other side of the plinth of a snake.
On the plinth on the other side of the part a similar depiction of Hermes, this time with a tripod over a plata can be seen.
Memmius Monument at the Head of the Part of the Curetes, near the Square of Domitianus was built in honor of Memmius, grandson of Roman General and Statesman Sulla.
The monument celebrates the political victory of Sulla over king Mithridates IV of Pontus. the Ruler who massacred 80.000 People and imposed a crippling levy on the citizens of the city of Ephesus.
Memmius, his father Caius and his grandfather, the dictator Sulla can be seen in military tyre on the reliefs between the columns of the two-teared structure.
On the Eastern Edge of the Structure can be seen an inscription in Greek and Latin that reads "Caius Memmius, son of Caius, grandson of Cornelius Sulla, the Saviour"
The northern front of the monument was most probably completed without decoration. The Bouleuterion where the buildings in which the legislative assemblies of the Ancient Greek city states gathered. It was the duty of these assemblies to decide on the important topic pertaining to everyday life such as setting the prices for trade goods. When travelers start their private ephesus tours from the Upper entrance being accompanied by their professional certified private ephesus tour guide, the first structure taking their attention is the Bouleuterion, most of the people reckon that this is the Great Theater, but actually it is not. If you are looking to book a Private Tour of Ephesus including this amazing site Please Click HERE.
When ephesus tour guides start their walking tours of the ancient city of Ephesus, they start the tour from the Upper Gate of this amazing ancient city.
The first structures of attraction welcoming the visitors are the Prytaneion, Senate Hall. You will see on this post some detailed information about these sites of attraction. If you want to book a Private Tour of Ephesus includes this Amazing Attraction Please Click HERE. |