The famous Ephesus Library was situated to the south of the Agora. This elegant monument was built in A.D. 135 by Julius Aquila In memory of his father, Celsus Polemaeanus of Sardis, Roman Senator and Proconsul of the province of Asia.
After passing through a marble-paved courtyard twenty-one meters wide one reaches the main reading-room by nine wide marble steps. There are four bases for statues at the top of the staircase The floor of the main reading room is built on arched vaults and the inner and outer walls are separated by a corridor, thus protecting the library from damp.
The walls and floor of the room were completely faced with colored marble. Across the main reading room there was an exactly placed niche for offerings; to the right and left of the round niche and on the side walls were square niches containing cupboards to hold the rolled manuscripts. On the front of the Library of Ephesus there was a two-storied gallery.
A section sixteen meters high was very richly decorated with a raised column, door ornaments and sculptural architectural monuments, carving and decoration. These carvings are to be seen in the Vienna Museum.
In a burial chamber in the lower part of the library can be seen a decorated white marble tomb in which Gaius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus was buried. The life of Celsus is related in Greek and Latin on the bases of the statues on each side of the library staircase.
History
The Library of Celsus was comissioned by the Consul Julius Aquila as a mausoleum for his father, Julius Celsus Polemaeanus, Roman governor of the Asian Provinces. It may be that Celsus was granted heroic honors, which would furthur justify the expense.
The monument was constructed between 110 and 135 AD, after which Celsus was buried in a niche on the right side of the back wall.
With a few centuries of its construction a fire destroyed the reading room and the library fell into disuse. Around 400 AD, the courtyard below the exterior steps was converted into a pool. The facade collapsed in an earthquake in the 10th century.
The Library of Celsus was raised from the rubble to its present splendid state by F. Hueber of the Austrian Archaeological Institute between 1970 and 1978.
What to See
Located next to the south gate, the Library of Celsus is 21m wide and over 16m high with a 2.4m-deep portico. The mausoleum-library originally had three stories, with galleries in the upper two stories.
Scrolls and codexes were stored in the niches, dispensed by a librarian. In total, 30 bookcases held about 12,000 scrolls. The reading room faced east in order to take advantage of the best light.
The lower niches of the facade contain four statues, which are through to represent Wisdom, Knowledge, Destiny, and Intelligence. These are replicas of the originals that are now in Vienna.
Latin and Greek inscriptions can be seen among the ruins of the library.
Quick Facts
- Names: Celsus Library; Library of Celsus
- Type of site: Mausoleum
- Faith: Roman
- Status: Ruins
- Dates: 110-35 AD
- Architecture: Classical
This is one building in a whole city of ruins but it stands out. It apparently was restored early and unlike other restoration doesn't make clear what is old and what is new. The statues on the facade are definitely copies. The originals are in a nearby museum in Selcuk which is undergoing renovation so is inaccessible. Great building facade…
This is such a lovely exterior of the original building to see – everyone wants to get their photo taken with it in the background. It is next too the terrace houses and at the end of the main street of the ancient city.
The Celcus Library is the most beautiful structure among the ruins in Ephesus.
Using your imagination, you can see how this remainder of the library may have looked and was used.
The ruins of the library can make one imagine the grandeur of the original building. This library is one of the most beautiful structures in Ephesus.
It's amazing to see that after so many years the Library structure stands. It gives you a perspective of what life was like back then. It's a must see on your next visit.
Second only to the Great Library of Alexandria, The Celsus Library was the fountain of knowledge of the ancient world. Criminally destroyed by ignorant Christians who wanted one book rather than hundreds, the fact that the façade still stands today is a reminder of the knowledge humanity lost at the hands of organised religion.
It is just incredible to think that this was buried for so long, and built so long ago! The workmanship is amazing!
The amount of the structure that you can see is great. I loved the whole ancient city. Make sure to see the Terrace Houses unless you can't do lots of steep, narrow steps.
great opportunity to take photos but lots of others walking around so be patient if you don,t want strangers in your pics.if you have paid entry to epheses then the library is included.