Temple of Hadrian, Ephesus
The Temple of Hadrian is one of the most iconic and visually striking structures in the ancient city. Discovered in 1956 by the Austrian Archaeological Institute and reconstructed shortly thereafter in 1957鈥�1958, the monument was carefully reassembled using its original architectural elements, supplemented by modern materials where necessary. A major conservation project supported by the J. M. Kaplan Fund was completed in 2014, restoring the temple鈥檚 appearance and ensuring its preservation. Although small in scale鈥攎easuring approximately 10 by 10 meters鈥攖he temple's elaborate decoration and elegant proportions have made it one of the most visited monuments along Curetes Street, standing directly in front of the Scholastica Baths.
Traditionally thought to be a neocorate temple dedicated to Emperor Hadrian, the structure's true purpose has since been the subject of scholarly debate. The dedicatory inscription reveals that the building was offered to Artemis Ephesia, Emperor Hadrian, and the people of Ephesus by P. Vedius Antoninus Sabinus. However, more recent research, especially by Ursula Quatember, has challenged the temple鈥檚 identification as an official imperial cult site. Based on architectural and epigraphic evidence, the temple may have been constructed earlier than previously thought鈥攁round 117鈥�119 CE鈥攁nd was possibly conceived as an integral part of the adjacent Varius Baths, rather than as a standalone temple for imperial worship.
Architecturally, the building is a refined example of a tetrastyle prostyle temple, with two Corinthian columns flanked by two pillars supporting a richly adorned architrave and a curved Syrian-style pediment. This pediment features floral decorations and a relief of Tyche, the goddess of fortune, crowned with city walls. Behind the columns lies the pronaos, with an entrance framed by a tympanum decorated with a relief of Medusa amidst acanthus scrolls. The inner cella is modest and simply adorned, once likely housing a cult statue of Hadrian. Although later damaged by an earthquake in the 4th century, the temple received several additions, including four relief panels in the pronaos鈥攄epicting mythological and historical scenes鈥攁nd four statues assumed to represent the tetrarchs, though the originals have been lost.
The Temple of Hadrian was eventually dismantled, its stones reused to construct a retaining wall on Curetes Street. Thanks to the Austrian Archaeological Institute鈥檚 efforts in the mid-20th century and more recent conservation work, this remarkable building has been resurrected and continues to captivate modern visitors with its intricate design and complex historical narrative.
Traditionally thought to be a neocorate temple dedicated to Emperor Hadrian, the structure's true purpose has since been the subject of scholarly debate. The dedicatory inscription reveals that the building was offered to Artemis Ephesia, Emperor Hadrian, and the people of Ephesus by P. Vedius Antoninus Sabinus. However, more recent research, especially by Ursula Quatember, has challenged the temple鈥檚 identification as an official imperial cult site. Based on architectural and epigraphic evidence, the temple may have been constructed earlier than previously thought鈥攁round 117鈥�119 CE鈥攁nd was possibly conceived as an integral part of the adjacent Varius Baths, rather than as a standalone temple for imperial worship.
Architecturally, the building is a refined example of a tetrastyle prostyle temple, with two Corinthian columns flanked by two pillars supporting a richly adorned architrave and a curved Syrian-style pediment. This pediment features floral decorations and a relief of Tyche, the goddess of fortune, crowned with city walls. Behind the columns lies the pronaos, with an entrance framed by a tympanum decorated with a relief of Medusa amidst acanthus scrolls. The inner cella is modest and simply adorned, once likely housing a cult statue of Hadrian. Although later damaged by an earthquake in the 4th century, the temple received several additions, including four relief panels in the pronaos鈥攄epicting mythological and historical scenes鈥攁nd four statues assumed to represent the tetrarchs, though the originals have been lost.
The Temple of Hadrian was eventually dismantled, its stones reused to construct a retaining wall on Curetes Street. Thanks to the Austrian Archaeological Institute鈥檚 efforts in the mid-20th century and more recent conservation work, this remarkable building has been resurrected and continues to captivate modern visitors with its intricate design and complex historical narrative.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Ephesus. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Temple of Hadrian on Map
Sight Name: Temple of Hadrian
Sight Location: Ephesus, Turkey (See walking tours in Ephesus)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Ephesus, Turkey (See walking tours in Ephesus)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Ephesus, Turkey
Create Your Own Walk in Ephesus
Creating your own self-guided walk in Ephesus is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Selcuk Introduction Walking Tour
Sel莽uk is a town near Izmir, in western Turkey. It鈥檚 the gateway to Ephesus, a vast, ancient city with the remains of a large theater and the Library of Celsus. South is the House of Virgin Mary, a domed chapel and religious shrine. Near Sel莽uk, a marble column is one of a few remains of the Temple of Artemis. The Ephesus Museum has more items from the temple, plus other artifacts excavated... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
Ephesus Introduction Walking Tour
Ephesus, the most important Greek city in Ionian Asia Minor, the ruins of which lie near the modern village of Sel茍uk in western Turkey. Ephesus is one of the largest and most impressive ancient cities in the world and is one of T眉rkiye鈥檚 most significant ancient cities. Its cultural and historical significance was highlighted in its addition to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 2015. The... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles