Trajan Fountain

Trajan Fountain was one of the three most magnificent structures of Ephesus. In 114. A.D. It was constructed to honor Emperor Trajan.

The fountain which had two ornamental pools, one in the front and one in the rear with two tiers of columns, was ornamented with Corinthian and Composite columns in order. According to the frieze and inscription on the architrave of the lower level, it is understood that this fountain was built by Tiberius Claudius Ariston and was dedicated to Emperor Trajan and the addition of two wings facing the facade on the entire side makes it more magnificent.

Between these two wings, a pool was erected in front of the fountain. The water was flown by a big channel in the middle into the front pool. There was a two-story niche that was constructed in the middle section of the facade. A big-size statue of Emperor Trajan was in the middle niche, on the top of the channel, the base and the foot with a round stone of his statue are in the original places. It is indicated in the inscription that the round stone under his foot means the world is underneath his feet.

The pipes beneath the plinth were filling the pool with water. The water flows from the channel into the front pool when the first pool was filled with water. During the excavation of the building the statues of Aphrodite, two statues of Dionysos which are nude and clothed, a young hunter figure symbolizing the founder of the city, Androklos, Emperor Nerva, some women, and one statue of a Satyr in a lying position were found. Now in the Archaeological Museum of Ephesus, these findings in the Trajan Fountain are exhibited.