Travel Turkey: “Roman Bath” complex in Ephesus Revealed

A complex Roman bath, covering approximately 70 acres in the ancient city of Ephesus, is being restored. This bath, which also includes a gymnasium and sports area, is being brought back to life as part of the “Eternal Ephesus: Heritage for the Future” project initiated by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The excavation and restoration efforts in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ephesus have been continuous throughout the year, with an accelerated pace due to the ministry’s increased budget, team, and technical support. The excavation team is currently working on the intersection of the Theater and Stadium Streets with the Harbor Street in the ancient city.

Prof. Dr. Serdar Aybek, project coordinator and faculty member of the Department of Archaeology at Dokuz Eylül University, stated that they have been working on the Vedius Gymnasium, theater, stadium, Harbor Street, and the Cave of the Seven Sleepers since 2023. He emphasized that the project is expected to continue through the end of the year. Despite intermittent work, the team, consisting of 70-80 members, continues its efforts. The excavation is focused on about 570 meters of Harbor Street. Prof. Aybek mentioned, “We are working to uncover previously unexplored sections, and we are close to completing them. Excellent and well-preserved areas are emerging. In the next phase, along with the surveying, we will continue the work to reinforce the foundation levels and structures in areas where settlement has continued.”

Prof. Aybek also highlighted the focus on the Harbor Bath, which was first excavated in 1895. He noted that during the Harbor Street excavations, they are revealing the oval hall, toilets, and pools of the Harbor Bath, one of the most significant baths built by the Roman Empire in Anatolia. He added, “There were some damages in areas where time had taken its toll. Moving forward, we plan to fully address and restore this bath, one of the most open structures of Rome.”

The structures and columns on Harbor Street will also be relocated as part of the project. Aybek pointed out that most of the locations of the columns are already known. “Once we complete the protection projects and obtain necessary approvals from the relevant conservation boards, the restoration and placement of the columns will begin,” he said.

The complex bath, gymnasium, and sports area date back to the reign of Roman Emperor Titus Flavius Domitianus. At the entrance of the 70-acre bath complex, there is a fountain adorned with bullhead carvings and floral motifs.