Discover the History and Purpose of the Celsus Library 📚

Celsus Library is a typical structure of architectural style prevalent in the period of Emperor Hadrian, dates back to 2. Centry AD. The most wellknown building of Ephesus City was built to honour proconsul (governor) of the Asian province Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus, by his son Tiberius Julius Acquila. Known as third largest library of Ancient World after Alexandria and Pergammon libraries.

Celsus library locates in the corner of Curetes street and the Marble road at center of the city, just to the left of the Commercial Agora. It rests on a nine-stepped podium 21m in length, the facade is richly decorated with relief carvings and has two stories that visitors can see – each with three pairs of columns capped with Corinthian capitals. First storey’s pillars are taller than 2.storey’ pillars for giving perspective to the building. Under the building there is a burial chamber in which stunning tomb of governor locates. The Celsus Library had three entrance doorways flanked by four statues locate in niches. These figures represented four qualities associated with the late governor: wisdom (sophia), intelligence (ennoia), knowledge (episteme) and virtue (arete).

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