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THE TEMPLE OF HADRIAN |
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The staircase on the right-hand side of the Temple of Hadrian, leads to the second floor of
Skolastikia's thermal
baths.
Hadrian's Temple earned the second 'Temple-Wardenship' for Ephesus. It is a fairly small structure in comparison to some of the other edifices, though it is one of the most attractive. Built in the Corinthian style, it is comprised of a cella and a porch. The roof of the cella was originally stone vaulting, similar to the roof of the Temple of Serapis. There are two columns in the middle of the porch façade and a pillar at either end. The straight architrave, overlaid with a frieze on top of the pillars at the sides, curves into an arch over the two central pillars. The bust of Tyche (or Kybele), the fortune of the city, is in the center of the arch.The sanctuary was built in the 2nd century AD. The inscription over the architrave reveals that the temple was dedicated to Hadrian(117-138 AD) by P. Quintilius. In the 4th century the temple was damaged by successive earthquakes, or possibly by fire. The porch reliefs belong to the subsequent restoration. (Those in place now are casts and the originals are in the museum). On the opposite side of Curates Street from the brothel/baths of Scolastikia complex are another group of lesser ruins. |
