Ephesus in Turkey

The stadium of Ephesus occupies an area of 229- water (tepidarium), and the hot - water
m. by 295 m. It is the space between the arches(caldarium) parts of the baths. Again it is said that
on the left and the gate on the right. Differenta valuable bronze statue was dug out in the
sports contests such as horse-racing, and chariotexcavation of 1926, and carried away to the
racing were performed here. There was a roundMuseum of Vienna.
arena on the east side where gladiators fought.One enters the courtyard of the harbour baths
The covered arches on the left side along thefrom the main harbour road. The court is a
stadium were made for keeping the animalscolonnaded atrium which leads to the baths via a
brought from hot countries. There were stonemonumental portal, flanked on either side by
steps on the slope seen on the right, on whichrectangular pools with bulls heads and garland relief
spectators sat. The seating places, were formedcarving to either side.
by filling the spaces with soil.The Arcadian street led to the harbour from the
The stadium gateway was built in the time ofGreat Theatre and was lined with columns along
Emperor Nero in the first century A. D. It is aeach side for its length of 530 m. Its width is 21
work of architecture belonging to the Romanm. This street, which was the most important
period. The gate seen in the picture is supposedone of the city, was restored by Emperor
to have been constructed in the 3rd or 4thArcadius (395 - 408 A.D.). so that it was called
century A. D. It is reckoned that the stadium hadArcadian after him. The middle section is paved
a capacity for 13.000 spectators. The stone stepswith marble and is 11 m. wide; both pillared side
of the stadium which were used as seats, nosections of the street are 5 m. wide each.
longer exist, having been carried to Ayasuluk hill inAccording to the knowledge acquired through
order to build the structures there.excavations, the street, decorated with statues,
You come across the remnants of the harbourwas illuminated by candle-like street lamps at night.
baths constructed with huge stones and gracefullyThere was a Harbour Gate at the place where
carved marble, between the Double Churches andthe street came to the sea. This gate still stands
the Harbour Street. These baths in the south, 200there in its elegance but photos can't be taken of
m. from the churches, belong to the Romanit because of the marshy land around. There was
period of the 2nd century A.D. Emperora sewage system under the street. In the
Constantine restored them in the 4th century anddistance on the horizon, you can discern the hill
they were named after him. You can see someover which St. Paulus was put into prison and for
pedestals on which many precious statues oncethis reason it is called the Prison of St. Paulus.
used to stand in the large salon in the picture.Four monumental columns though to date to the
There was a covered swimming pool to the north4th century are to be found in the centre of the
of this salon. Magnificent granite pillars which onceharbour road. Although it is not known why these
used to decorate this swimming pool, nowwere originally erected, they are thought to have
support the domes of Isa Bey Mosque. Theborn the statues of the four authors of the New
excavations at this spot did not reveal the warmTestament.