One of the biggest ancient cities of the Mediterranean Ephesus, is now undergoing important restoration. The marble hall of the palace-like house in which the city’s Roman consul lived in A.D. 275 has begun to be restored, putting back together 350-square-meter walls that are now broken into 120,000 pieces.
The deputy supervisor of the ongoing excavations in Ephesus, Sabine Ladstatter, said this method was used in Italy once before, but with such a large-scale assembly will be the first in history. Excavations have been ongoing in this city for 138 years. Terrace Houses where the richest people lived are seen as the most exciting sites for excavation and restoration.
Considered to be the most important of the Terrace houses, the palatial house of Gaius Flavius Furius Aptus, the city consul, is drawing attention as a focus of excavation and restoration projects. Its magnificent 178-square-meter salon, whose walls were clothed with marble, is witnessing a major restoration. The plan is to begin with the restoration of the salon’s walls.
The walls had sunk deep into the soil over time due to numerous earthquakes. The pieces of the walls have been found through the extensive excavations, which have been going on for years. Presently the there are about 120,000 pieces that are going to be used for the restoration.
Ladstatter said they believe those pieces constitute 90 percent of the walls. She added that they are going to use laser screening to find the proper piece to put into the proper place in the wall. “What we are going to do here now is an effort to complete a puzzle composed of 120,000 pieces,” Ladstatter summarized. The restoration is expected to cost $300,000.
World’s biggest puzzle made in Terrace Houses at Ephesus,
Don't get confused by the name "houses". It's actually more like a giant housing complex that contain 5 or 6 families. In my opinion I found that these houses were better preserved than most of the other ruins outside. There are many mosaics and frescoes inside that are spectacular. Beware that it is hotter inside the houses and there are…
Terrace Houses, Ephesus
Amazing to see the Terrace Houses in Ephesus. So much design and art.
Wonderful preservation and you get a birds-eye view of the houses from a viewing platform as you walk above the archeological areas. Lots of stairs.
The most interesting but least visited sector of the Ephesus site. A seperate admission fee allows for a shaded walk above the ongoing excavations of the richly decorated hillside homes of Ephesus' most affluent citizens. These up-scale residences were adorned with beautiful frescoes and mosaics reminiscent of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Interesting but the works have not been finished yet so not much to see. Your guide will tell you more info on them though
Terrace Houses in Ephesus
This is charged separately within the Ephesus remains. It's under cover. The remains of the terrace houses are stunning, mosaic floors, some still complete and also plaster and wallpainting still in tact from roman times. This is an outstanding part of a larger also outstanding historical site
I had read the reviews before going and knew not to skip the Terrace Houses, but even my highest expectations were exceeded. The reviews had prepared me for long lines and a slow pace through but for whatever reason it was almost like we had the place to ourselves.
We booked a privatetour while on a cruise. We requested a visit to the Terrace Houses and we are glad we did. It was very interesting to see how the rich lived in ancient times. Most large tour groups don't tour the houses because they are not set up for large groups.
They call it the worlds largest jigsaw puzzle, but little by little they are getting it done. What an amazing accomplishment! It gives great insight into the lives of the people of Ephesus. Take at least an hour just for the houses.