Library of Celsus, Ephesus
The reconstructed Library of Celsus in Ephesus. Photo
Mitch Allen.
Ruins of the library before reconstruction. Miltner, Ephesos (1958).
Side view of the facade. Photo © Helen Betts.
Detail of upper left facade. Photo
Carmen.
Lower niches with statues. Photo
Carmen.
Inside the portico. Photo
Carmen.
Detail of relief at the top of the facade. Photo © Helen Betts.
The Library of Celsus is a Roman mausoleum and library built in the early 2nd century AD. As one of the most beautifully reconstructed buildings in Ephesus, it has become an icon of the ancient city.
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 |
Travel Resources
- Ephesus Map - our detailed interactive map plus links to more
- Ephesus Guided Tours - sightseeing tours and day trips
- Kusadasi Hostels - search and book budget lodgings in nearby Kusadasi
- Kusadasi Hotel Reviews - unbiased reviews from fellow travelers
- Car Rentals (from Kusadasi) - explore Turkey with your own car
- Ephesus Travel Forum - tips, answers and advice on Ephesus tourism
Article Sources
- Frommer's Turkey, 3rd ed.
- Library of Celsus at Ephesus - W.A. Johnson, University of Cincinnati
- Franz von Miltner, Ephesos: Stadt der Artemis und des Johannes (Wien : F. Deuticke, 1958), 55.
Location Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of the Library of Celsus (center blue marker). Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Ephesus Map or get our free Google Earth download.
