Marble Street in Ephesus Turkey

Marble Street was one of the main streets of Ephesus City that connects Curetes Street to Arcadian Street. It was named for its white marble pavements.

The street starts from Celsus Library and goes on the far entrance of the Great Theatre of Ephesus, the section of Sacred which leads to the Temple of Artemis. It was mostly used as a religious ceremony road and a pedestrian way.

It was constructed in 1. Century AD and reconstructed with marble blocks during 5. Century AD by a rich Ephesus citizen. Its Eastern side was decorated with Corinthian and Ionic columns. Behind columns, there were spaces used for commercial purposes and multi-story dwellings. On the west of Marble Street, there was a 2-meter-high Nero Stoa.

On the western side of the street, there are drawings of a female bust with polos, afoot, and a heart pierced by an arrow. The drawing has been an advertisement giving directions to the “House of Love” at the beginning of the street. This advertisement is known as the first advertisement in the world.

There had been numerous excavations and restorations on Marble Street.