Just north of the Library of Celsus, at the intersection of Curetes Street and Marble Street, stands the Mazeus and Mithridates Gate, which has witnessed countless events throughout history.
With its three arched openings providing access to the agora, this impressive structure features a striking architectural emphasis: the central passage is recessed, while the side passages are brought forward. The gate, designed as a triumphal arch, attracts attention with its unique design and detailed reliefs.
The Latin and Ancient Greek inscriptions on the upper part of the gate reveal that the structure was built in 4 BCE or 3 BCE in honor of Emperor Augustus, his wife Livia, his son-in-law Agrippa, and his daughter Julia by two freed slaves named Mazeus and Mithridates, who Agrippa had freed.
The gate was unearthed during excavations in the first quarter of the 20th century, and it was restored under the supervision of F. Hueber in the last quarter of the same century. Thanks to this restoration, this significant architectural work, reflecting the aesthetic sensibilities and social context of the ancient period, continues to captivate its visitors today.