Ancient Ephesus Port and Port Street (Arcadiane)

Port

Throughout its history, Ephesus is an excellent example of a city where urban planning was determined by environmental factors. Starting from the Çukuriçi Mound in the 7th millennium BC, Ephesus has a continuous and complex settlement history that can be traced to the present day in Selçuk, once the basin of the Kayster (Cayster) River. Despite its geographically favorable location, Ephesus was subject to the continual east-to-west shift of the coastline due to sedimentation, causing the city area and its ports to change location multiple times. The Ancient City stands out as a Roman Port City with its sea canal and harbor basin built along the Cayster River during the early Roman Empire Period to connect the harbor to the sea, which was extended westward over time and surrounded by structures. The wealth and prosperity of the Roman Imperial Period almost ended with the silting of the basin and canal, especially after an earthquake in the late 3rd century, accelerating the decline of Ephesus. (Ladstätter, S., 2016, pp.413, 418)

Ancient Ephesus Harbor Ephesus fully controlled a functioning harbor. It has always played a significant role in transportation and trade between the Aegean Sea and Central Anatolia throughout all historical periods. Having one of the largest harbors, it served as an economic platform and cultural intersection between Anatolia and the Mediterranean world from the beginning.

In the 2nd century AD, the basin was connected to the sea through a wide canal, which was narrowed no earlier than the 3rd century. Tomb houses dating from the 3rd to the 5th century AD were located on both sides of the canal. There are several locations along the Cayster (Küçük Menderes) River near Ephesus for additional harbor basins. These structures served as outer harbors, quay walls, and other facilities.

The harbor landscape, consisting of an artificial harbor basin, an entrance channel flanked by streets lined with tombs on both sides, a lighthouse, and several other outer harbors and adjacent necropolis, is unique in the world and stands out in the ancient world.

Three gates from the city to the hexagonal harbor basin, surrounded by a representative colonnaded street with a breakwater wall, adjacent ship docks, ship hangars, and warehouses.

King Attalos II of Pergamum had an artificial harbor basin constructed in the 2nd century BC. During the Roman Empire, this area was expanded, fortified, and connected to the open sea via a canal. The advancing sedimentation forced the Ephesians to continually widen the canal, create outer harbors, and construct docks and breakwaters. Warehouses, churches, burial monuments, and lighthouses complete a unique harbor landscape that, due to its unparalleled features, can truly be described as unique. (Anonymous)

Port Street (Arcadiane)

The Harbor Street, 528 meters in length, with stoas built on both sides during the time of Emperor Arcadius, starts right in front of the theater and continues all the way to the harbor of Ephesus.

It is known that during the time of Lysimachus, a road connecting the Harbor of Ephesus to the city was constructed. The street, damaged by an earthquake in the 4th century, was repaired during the reign of Emperor Arcadius (AD 395-408) and thus came to be known as Arcadian Street (Arkadiane). The harbor road, 500 meters long and 11 meters wide, is flanked by colonnades (stoas) on both sides. It is known that the stoas were built to protect the public from heat and rain. In the 5th century AD, a four-columned monument was erected on the street. It is known that these Corinthian columns bore bronze statues of the gospel writers. In the 6th century AD, it is thought that torches were placed along the street, continuing with the columns, thereby illuminating it. (Anonymous)