The approximately 500 metres long street running between the Ephesus Theatre and the harbour was called the Harbour Street or the Arcadiana. The street constructed in the 1st century BC was repaired and widened by the Eastern Roman Emperor Arcadius and made into a true ceremonial street. It took its ultimate form after the repairs made in this period. It is a meeting point of roads coming from the inner parts of Anatolia and from overseas countries. Many a celebrity came to the harbour from Rome or other cities and walked to the city in ceremony along this road.
At both ends of the street on the Theatre and the harbour side there were three passaged gates in the form of an arch of triumph. Of these gates particularly the one near the Theatre was destroyed down to its foundations.
The street was 1 1 metres wide and had a portico on either side of which Corinthian columns supported the roof. Behind the portico was a row of shops and stores. The lower parts of the northern side were allocated entirely to sports areas. The thick rubble wall on the south side was the Byzantine city wall of Ephesus. In the Byzantine period the street was left outside the city. In the middle of the street on four tall columns different from the others stood the statues of the four writers of the Bible. Today only one of the columns stands, of the others only the bases have remained.
According to an inscription found during excavations the Harbour Street of Ephesus was illuminated by fifty lamps at night. In the Roman period illuminated cities were quite rare.
Harbour Street of Ephesus
Harbour street is 500 meters long and 11 metes wide. On both side of the street there were covered particos. These particos, which were reserved for pedestrians, had the function of protecting them from the bad weather and hosted shops in the inner part. The roadway completely covered with marble, was enriched – towards the middle part – by four columns culminating in Corinthian capitals which upheld statues of the Four Evangelists.
The shafts of the columns, still in existence, denote ornamental patterns of clearly Christian imprints. There is reason to believe that this latter decorative elements is the result of an addition made under Justinian ( 6th century), shortly before the inexorable decline of the city.
Harbour street Ephesus, leading to the Great Theatre and centre of town.
Harbour Street, Ephesus
In the middle of the first century A.D the city of Ephesus was flourishing. It had been built near the mouth of the river Cayster and had one of the busiest inland harbours of the Aegean coast. The illustration is of Harbour Street which, when originally built, led from the harbour to the theatre which is mentioned by Luke in Acts chapter 19. Harbour Street is 530 metres long and 11 metres wide. The theatre is still there, but the harbour gradually silted up and there are now fields where once there was water. The ruins of Ephesus, which are well worth a visit, are now 7 miles inland.
The building of the theatre was begun in the reign of the Roman Emperor Claudius (41-54 A.D.). There was seating for about 25,000 people and one of its uses was the regular meetings of the city assembly.
At Ephesus pagan religions flourished. Here was one of the wonders of the world, the temple of Artemis (Diana). The making of small silver shrines of the goddess was a trade involving many craftsmen. The shrines were sold as souvenirs to visitors to the pagan temple.
Paul made two visits to Ephesus, his second lasting three years. As a result of the preaching of the gospel, many renounced paganism and received Christ. Those whose trades depended on the cult felt their livelihoods threatened by the fall in demand for their silver shrines. Demetrius, an influential member of the guild of smiths, called his colleagues to a mass meeting in the theatre. Many of the general public joined in the demonstration.
“and they rushed with one accord into the theatre, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel”(Acts 19:29).
Paul was intent on confronting the riotous assembly, but was strongly advised against entering the theatre by his converts and also some influential citizens of the city. It was the town clerk who eventually restored some measure of order and sent them home. No doubt he was concerned that the Roman authorities would take a serious view of the riotous behaviour.
Paul’s work in Ephesus and beyond was a triumph of the gospel over occultism and idolatry. His subsequent letter to the church is a valued part of our spiritual inheritance.
Ephesus Harbour Street, Map
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