Ephesus - The Aegean Coast - Cities and Towns in Turkey - Turkey - Home
|
The Arcadine (Harbor Street) |
|
| This street, 600
meters long and
11
meters wide, was given
this name after its restoration by the Emperor Arcadius (395-408). The
main street of the city connecting the theatre and the surrounding area
to the port, it was flanked by stoas with mosaic floors. These
colonnades, which included a row of shops, served to protect the.
inhabitants of the city from wind and rain in the winter and from the
sun in the summer. Inscriptions oh four imposing Corinthian columns
erected by the Emperor Justinian (525-566) indicate the existence of
sculptures of the four Evangelists. An inscription in the theatre
informs us that the street was illuminated by two rows of torches. Being located between the harbor and the Harbor Baths and rising to the great theatre and marble street, this was the first street of the city to be seen and used by traders and sailors when they arrived in port. So it was designed gorgeous with marble slabs and colonnades. It was constructed in the Hellenistic Period, but then was restored during the reign of the Emperor Arcadius (395-408 AD.), from whom it takes its present name. |
|
|
|
Along both sides of the street there
were shops and galleries, and gates in the form of monumental arches.
There were four higher columns with the statues of four apostles on the
top. It was one of the three lighted street at that time along with Rome
and Antioch. 50 streetlights lit up its colonnades and water, sewerage
channels ran beneath the marble flagstones.
The first building near the theatre is called the Theatre Gymnasium. It is a Second Century AD building with two floors and numerous rooms. It was used for sports ground. At the entrance of the port there were the Port Baths or the Harbor Baths. They were built in the year 2 AD. The Baths are also called the Baths of Constantine, for they were restored by Constantine II (337-361). It was one of the largest building with 160 m wide, 170 m long and 28 m high. |
CLICK HERE for
additional photos of Ephesus
and
HERE for photos of some of the intricate
detail work to be found in Ephesus.
| It is best to visit Ephesus with a good
guide - especially if it is your first visit. Although there are many licensed,
official tour guides, I believe that Can (John) Yigit is one of the best. One of
the main reasons is, not only does he love this place, but he worked here beside
the archeologists when he was in college. And, is very personable. His English
is excellent and he makes the place come alive with his narrative. Contact
information is as follows: Can Yigit Gsm +90 532. 426 63 35 Tel +90 256. 612 83 30 email: guidecan68@yahoo.com P.O. Box 152 09400 Kusadasi / Aydin / Turkey Here
are a couple of comments about John. |
|
