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
I loved the ancient facade for its design. Its visually complex and stunning. Fires the imagination to think of my footsteps centuries later on the same stones as people from centuries ago. I gasped aloud as I turned the corner and saw the Theatre and then the Library. My guide was happy to see my awe.
The Celsus Library represented one small piece of a ancient city which is one of the best preservation jobs I have seen. A person can genuinely 'soak in' the atmosphere of Roman times. We enjoyed these ruins more so than those in Rome, Italy. The ruins do not appear that impressive up entering.
After traveling all over the world and seeing a lot of ruins, I ca positively say that to date, the library is the most impressive well preserve ruin I have ever seen. It seriously put Pompeii to shame and just the fact that it still looks the way it does after all those year is absolutely amazing!
The Celsus Library was one of the biggest highlights of our Ephesus tour. It was the most intact building in ancient city with an incredible facade! Not to be missed!
We saw the library during our day tour but had the good fortune to return in the evening for a private, formal dinner party with the library as our backdrop. The catered meal for our corporate event/party of 100 guests was an evening we will never forget with the stunning backdrop and a string quartet set up between the library…
Whole ancient Ephesus is monumental, but the library of Celsus stands out because of its particular architecture. The facade is adorned with four statues on the ground floor. The statues simbolize the virtues of Celsus. The ticket is affordable so don't miss the opportunity to visit the ancient city of Ephesus!!!!
Wow what an amazing place, this is a view i will never forget and its amazing when you look up inside how well preserved the detailing is. Definately the most memorable part of my trip to Turkey.
This is one of the most amazing place I have been too. They have been restoring this ancient building for years and it give you the feel of what the wonderful city was like thousands of years.
This is the best restoration at Ephesus!! It is photographable from almost everywhere in Ephesus and every picture is amazing!
The size and detail were amazing. One of the highlights of the area for me. Really crowded but I don't think you could avoid that.