Located on Curetes Street, one of the main arteries of Ephesos, the Temple of Hadrian is an impressive architectural structure despite its small size. The temple consists of two main sections: the main worship area (cella) and the columned entrance section (portico). Based on the inscription on the structure, the temple is dated to 118–119 CE and was built by the Asiarch Publius Vedius Antoninus Sabinus. The dedication inscription reveals that the temple was dedicated to Artemis of Ephesos, Roman Emperor Hadrian (117–138 CE), and the people of Ephesos.
Over time, earthquakes caused significant damage to the temple, and it was partially destroyed in the 4th century CE. During the second construction phase in this period, it is understood that much of the original material was reused. During the repairs, statues of the Roman emperors Diocletian, Maximian, Galerius, and Constantinus were placed on four pedestals in front of the temple’s facade facing the street. However, only the pedestals of these statues have survived to the present day. In the same period, relief decorations were added to the inner walls of the columned entrance. These reliefs, still visible today, depict scenes from the legendary founding of Ephesos and various mythological stories.
In the second half of the 20th century, the meticulous excavation work conducted by Franz Miltner and his team brought the Temple of Hadrian back to light and restored it to its former glory. Thanks to this restoration, the temple remains one of the most striking structures on Curetes Street, just as it was in ancient times.