Ephesus Ruins Tours

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This library is one of the most beautiful structures in Ephesus. It was built in 117 A.D. It was a monumental tomb for Gaius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus, the governor of the province of Asia; from his son Galius Julius Aquila. The grave of Celsus was beneath the ground floor, across the entrance and there was a statue of Athena over it. Because Athena was the goddess of the wisdom. The scrolls of the manuscripts were kept in cupboards in niches on the walls. There were double walls behind the bookcases to prevent the them from the extremes of temperature and humidity. The capacity of the library was more than 12,000 scrolls. It was the third richest library in ancient times after the Alexandra and Pergamum. The facade of the library has two-stories, with Corinthian style columns on the ground floor and three entrances to the building. There are three windows openings in the upper story. They used an optical trick that the columns at the sides of the facade are shorter than those at the center, giving the illusion of the building being greater in size. The statues in the niches of the columns today are the copies of the originals. The statues symbolize wisdom (Sophia), knowledge (Episteme), intelligence (Ennoia) and valor (Arete). These are the virtues of Celsus. The library was restored with the aid of the Austrian Archaeological Institute and  the originals of the statues were taken to Ephesus Museum in Vienna in 1910. There was an auditorium ,which was for lectures or presentations between the library and the Marble Road, was built during the reign of the Emperor Hadrian. #History Photo Contest #ancient #InStone #Lifeatexpedia #UNESCO World Heritage sites #culture
From entire cities to a scattering of remains, the treasures dug up at an archaeological site provide vital clues to the past. Check out Ephesus Ruins to learn more about times gone by.

You'll have no end of sightseeing choices when in Selçuk. Ephesus Ruins is an ideal place to kick off here, but there are loads of other worthy attractions to discover. Aqua Fantasy Aquapark, Adaland Aquapark, and Ephesus Archaeological Museum are not far from the archaeological dig site and will round out your day nicely.

Browse tours and tickets to explore Ephesus Ruins

Tours & day trips

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Daily Trip to House of Virgin Mary, Ancient City of Ephesus, Basilica of St...

Daily Trip to House of Virgin Mary, Ancient City of Ephesus, Basilica of St...

Activity duration is 15 hours
7.0 out of 10 with 2 reviews
Free cancellation available
Price is $177 per adult*
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Food, drink & nightlife

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From Izmir: Full-Day Ephesus Tour with Lunch

From Izmir: Full-Day Ephesus Tour with Lunch

Activity duration is 8 hours
Free cancellation available
Price is $260 per adult*
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Air, helicopter & balloon tours

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Turkey's Wonders - Pamukkale, Ephesus, Cappadocia Travel from-to Istanbul

Turkey's Wonders - Pamukkale, Ephesus, Cappadocia Travel from-to Istanbul

Activity duration is 4 days
Free cancellation available
Price is $2,513 per adult*
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Adventure & outdoor

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Quad Safari From Kusadasi Port / Hotels

Quad Safari From Kusadasi Port / Hotels

Activity duration is 3 hours
Free cancellation available
Price is $49 per adult*
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Shopping & fashion

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Kusadasi Walking Shopping Tour with Local Expert Guide

Kusadasi Walking Shopping Tour with Local Expert Guide

Activity duration is 3 hours
Free cancellation available
Price is $65 per adult*
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Reviews of Ephesus Ruins

4.8
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
63
5 - Excellent 83%
4 - Good
13
4 - Good 17%
3 - Okay
0
3 - Okay 0%
2 - Disappointing
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1 - Terrible
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4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

Just be prepared for a huge amount of tourists

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Just enjoy it. Just make a pitstop at the toilets before you start off. The souvenirs outside way cheaper than inside the actual shop.

5/5 - Excellent

SK

Best to travel outside of the hot months, but if you do, strongly suggest getting there when they open ( 8 am for the summer)!

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

A must see for everyone!

Popular places to visit

Woman in front of Ruins of Celsus Library

Celsus Library

You can find out about the history of Selçuk with a trip to Celsus Library. While in this quaint area, find time to visit its stunning cathedral.

Celsus Library

Temple of Serapis

You can find out about the history of Selçuk with a trip to Temple of Serapis. Wander the beautiful beaches in this quaint area.

Temple of Serapis

Lower Agora

Find out about the history of Selçuk when you take a trip to Lower Agora. While in this quaint area, find time to visit its stunning cathedral.

Lower Agora

Gate of Mazeus and Mythridates

You can find out about the history of Selçuk when you stop by Gate of Mazeus and Mythridates. While in this quaint area, find time to visit its stunning cathedral.

Gate of Mazeus and Mythridates

Ephesus Terrace Houses

Find out about the history of Selçuk when you spend time at Ephesus Terrace Houses. Wander the beautiful beaches in this quaint area.

Ephesus Terrace Houses

Temple of Hadrian

Find out about the history of Selçuk with a stop at Temple of Hadrian. Wander the beautiful beaches in this quaint area.

Temple of Hadrian

Best Lodging Options Near Ephesus Ruins

Ephesus Centrum

Ephesus Centrum

1016. Sk. 19 Selçuk Izmir
Ephesus Centrum
Cella Boutique Hotel & SPA

Cella Boutique Hotel & SPA

Ataturk Mah.1079.Sok. No 21 Selçuk Izmir
Cella Boutique Hotel & SPA
Celsus Boutique Hotel

Celsus Boutique Hotel

atatürk mahallesi 1051 sokak no 2 Selçuk
Celsus Boutique Hotel
Nicea Hotel

Nicea Hotel

Ataturk Mh Ugur Mumcu Sevgi Yolu No14 Selçuk
Nicea Hotel
Akanthus Hotel Ephesus

Akanthus Hotel Ephesus

Atatürk Mahallesi 1064 Sokak No 11 Selçuk
Akanthus Hotel Ephesus
Pikan Ephesus

Pikan Ephesus

1045. Sk. 42 A Selçuk Izmir
Pikan Ephesus
Amazon Antique

Amazon Antique

Atatürk Mah. 1054 Sok. No:6 Selcuk Selçuk Izmir
Amazon Antique
Erdem Ciftligi Ephesus Arena

Erdem Ciftligi Ephesus Arena

Atatürk caddesi no.238 Selçuk Selcuk Izmir
Erdem Ciftligi Ephesus Arena
Livia Garden Hotel

Livia Garden Hotel

Atatürk Mahallesi 1057 Sokak No.13 Selçuk Izmir
Livia Garden Hotel
See all 437 properties in Ephesus Ruins
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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