Set like a marble jewel among the ruins of Ephesus, the Library of Celsus commands immediate attention. This two-story façade, carved from white Proconnesian and Phrygian marble, is one of the most iconic relics of the ancient world. The library stands in what is now Turkey’s İzmir Province (near the modern town of Selçuk) and was commissioned in the early 110s CE by Gaius (Tiberius Julius) Aquila Polemaeanus, a Roman consul, as a monument to his father, Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus. Celsus himself was a Romanized Greek, a former proconsul of Asia, and he was entombed in a decorated sarcophagus beneath the library’s floor. In its heyday the Library of Celsus held an estimated 12,000 papyrus scrolls, making it the third-largest repository of knowledge in the Greco-Roman world (behind only Alexandria and Pergamum). Today its soaring facade – painstakingly reconstructed from original fragments – continues to draw visitors worldwide as an architectural marvel of antiquity.

• Location: Ancient Ephesus (near Selçuk, İzmir, Türkiye).
• Built: ca. 110–135 CE, started under Emperor Trajan and completed under Hadrian.
• Commissioned by: Gaius (Tiberius Julius) Aquila Polemaeanus (son of Celsus).
• In Honor of: Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus, former consul and governor of Asia.
• Capacity: ~12,000 scrolls (making it the third-largest library in the ancient world).
• Architectural Style: Grand Roman urban monument with Greek influences; a two-story marble façade of paired columns, niches, and sculptural ornamentation.

In the pages that follow, we will trace the Library of Celsus’s full story – from the life of the man it honors to the artistry of its design, from the scrolls it once housed to its dramatic destruction and modern rebirth. We will also provide a traveler’s guide: how to reach Ephesus today, the best ways to experience the site, and why this ancient building remains an enduring symbol of knowledge and cultural heritage.

The Story Behind the Library of Celsus: A Tale of Filial Piety and Roman Ambition

Who Was Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus? The Man Behind the Monument

Born around 45 CE in the Greek-speaking provinces of Anatolia, Celsus came from a prominent Ephesian family of Romanized background. He pursued a distinguished career in imperial service: after military command, he was appointed suffect consul in 92 CE – a remarkable achievement for someone from the eastern provinces. Celsus was one of the first men from a Greek-speaking city to reach Rome’s highest offices. Under Emperor Trajan he served as proconsul (governor) of Asia, the Roman Empire’s wealthiest province, which roughly corresponds to modern western Turkey. He then returned to his native Ephesus, revered as a military hero, senator, and wealthy benefactor.

Unlike the distant tombs of many Roman governors, Celsus’s final resting place was to be in his own city. In a rare civic honor, he was laid to rest in a decorated sarcophagus beneath the library’s floor. This decision – to be buried within a public library – underscored his status and patriotism. It bound his memory to the building that would carry his name, making the library itself a mausoleum of sorts.

A Son’s Tribute: The Construction by Tiberius Julius Aquila

After Celsus’s death (around 115–117 CE), his only son Gaius (Tiberius Julius) Aquila Polemaeanus undertook the task of fulfilling his father’s final wishes. Aquila dedicated a portion of the family fortune to build a grand library in honor of Celsus – a public benefaction in the Roman tradition. Inscriptions record that he allocated 25,000 denarii for the library’s collection and maintenance. In the Roman world, wealthy patrons were expected to use their wealth for the community’s benefit, and Aquila’s gift fit this expectation. He initiated construction around 110 CE; the work lasted into the reign of Hadrian, with Aquila’s descendants finally completing the project by 135 CE.

By its dedication, the Library of Celsus was both a memorial tomb and a center of learning – a son’s filial piety made manifest in stone, serving the entire city. This dual purpose reflected the values of its age: a fusion of personal commemoration and public education. Ephesus at that time was a thriving metropolis of trade, culture, and literacy, and the library’s founding embodied those civic aspirations. Aquila’s monument not only honored Celsus the man, but also benefited Ephesus as a whole, cementing the family’s legacy in the life of the city.

Deconstructing Genius: The Architecture of the Library of Celsus

Figure: The soaring two-story façade of the Library of Celsus, with its illusionistic design of columns and ornate reliefs. (Photo: Emre D./Wikimedia Commons.)

An Architectural Overview: Roman Engineering Meets Greek Illusion

The Library of Celsus was an engineering and artistic tour de force. Its east-facing façade rose about 17 meters high and 21 meters wide, set atop a pedestal of nine broad marble steps. But this grandeur is partly illusory. The builders employed a Greek trick known as foreshortening or forced perspective: the inner columns were made longer, while the outer columns were taller, so that from the viewer’s standpoint the columns appear uniform in height. Similarly, the entire facade is subtly curved outward at its base. These optical refinements make the structure seem larger and more imposing than its actual dimensions. In short, the architecture intentionally exaggerates scale to elevate its visual impact.

Despite these illusions, the Library’s actual measurements were imposing. Each of the nine frontal steps spans the building’s width and leads up to three grand arched doorways. Above these entrances, large arched windows (perhaps originally glazed) allowed light into the hall. The second story mirrors the first, with three large windows set above the doorways. Flanking the entrances are four pairs of Composite columns on tall pedestals; above them stand another set of four Corinthian columns, one above each pair. In total, the facade displays eight columns on the lower level and another eight above. All columns are richly fluted and crowned with carved cornices of acanthus leaves. The broad steps and colossal column-sets convey a sense of approach and monumentality.

The facade’s ornamentation is detailed and symbolic. Botanical motifs – carved acanthus leaves, vines, scrolls – cover much of the stone surface, giving a sense of living texture. Inscribed statues and reliefs also appear: notably the fasces (bundles of rods), an emblem of civic power and of Celsus’s authority as consul. Such symbols directly tied the building to Celsus’s career and Roman political imagery. All around, this eclectic decoration weaves together Greek and Roman elements: a throne for Athena (in the central niche, as noted below) beneath the triumphal acanthus scrolls; and the Roman fasces set over classical garlands. The result is a sculpted symphony in marble – one which, as UNESCO notes, ranks among the most magnificent monuments of the Roman Empire.

The Iconic Façade: A Symphony in Stone

The Library’s two-story facade is its most striking feature. A closer look reveals the harmonious arrangement of architectural elements. Nine steps ascend to a raised platform that carries the entire structure. These steps serve both a practical function (bringing visitors up to the entrances) and a dramatic one, framing the library against the sky. A narrow ledge runs along the front behind the bottom columns, with a similar ledge on the second level. These horizontal lines anchor the facade visually.

Between the columns on each floor are tall vertical niches with triangular or rounded pediments above. The lower level has three large doorways: the central archway (lined with decorative moldings) and two smaller side entrances. Each doorway is topped by a sculpted panel or tympanum (the central one bearing Celsus’s name). On the upper level, corresponding arches serve as windows or decorative blank spaces; these too are framed by columns and pediments. The overall effect is rhythmic: columns and niches alternate, creating a classical colonnade effect across both stories.

Notice also that the columns themselves are not identical. As mentioned, the inner columns on each level are slightly longer to match the perspective of the viewer. The bases of the lower columns rest on a continuous marble plinth, while the upper columns rise from their own individual pedestals. Eight composite (Ionic/Corinthian) columns on the first level are matched by eight plain Corinthian columns on the second level. Each capital (column top) is richly carved. This symmetry and doubling of elements lend a sense of order and balance to the facade, even as the small variations (in column height, pedestal height, etc.) create optical refinement.

The Four Virtues: Guardians of Wisdom

Flanking the central entrances are niches containing life-sized statues – the personifications of Celsus’s virtues. According to ancient inscriptions and modern scholarship, these four female figures represent Sophia (Σοφία, Wisdom), Episteme (Ἐπιστήμη, Knowledge), Ennoia (Ἔννοια, Thought/Intelligence), and Arete (Ἀρετή, Excellence or Bravery). Each virtue was a valued quality for a cultured Roman senator: for example, Sophia stands for learned wisdom, while Arete signifies moral excellence. The arrangement of these figures underscores the building’s intellectual purpose – visitors were literally greeted by allegories of scholarly ideals as they approached the library.

It should be noted that the statues visible today are modern replicas. The bronze originals were likely melted down in antiquity, and these niches later received marble copies salvaged from elsewhere. All four original statues of the virtues are now preserved in the Ephesus Museum (Konstantin University) in Vienna. Their Italian Renaissance–style replacements (as seen on site) faithfully echo the classical aesthetic, but the label “Originals in Vienna” reminds us that what stands now is a testament to archaeological restoration as much as to ancient craft.

Inside the Library: Recreating the Ancient Reading Room

Beyond the facade’s stone screen lay a single, rectangular hall – the library’s reading room. Archaeologists have determined that this main chamber measured roughly 11 by 17 meters (about 36×56 feet). It was a lofty vaulted space built on a sturdy substructure (a series of arches and a vault resting on the stepped platform). Crucially, the interior walls were actually double-layered: a thick inner wall behind the shelves insulated the scrolls against moisture and pests. This ingenious design kept the papyrus from decaying in the humid climate.

Along the walls stood two rows of tall niches, one above the other. Each niche was large enough to hold wooden bookcases (armaria) or scroll-chests. Inscriptions indicate that these held the library’s collection of papyri. The lower series of niches sat about three meters off the ground; above them was a second tier reached by a narrow gallery. (Today only the facade survives, but excavations have revealed the stone brackets and moldings that held the floors of these galleries.) Access between levels was via marble steps or internal staircases built into the thickness of the walls (not visible today).

At the far end of the hall stood a semicircular apse framed by Corinthian columns. In that niche once stood a statue of Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom – an appropriate patron for a library. Beneath the floor of this apse lay the crypt containing Celsus’s marble sarcophagus. In Roman practice it was almost unheard-of to bury someone within a public building; Celsus’s entombment here is a unique honor. On either side of the apse were smaller exedras (arched recesses) that might have held portraits of Celsus and his family or other statues.

In sum, the interior was essentially a three-story repository: ground floor storage, a mid-level gallery, and the upper decorated front. Its design allowed natural light (from the east-facing windows of the facade) to flood the room, enabling scholars to read by sunlight. Although no shelving survives, the stone sockets and floor plan make it clear that up to 12,000 papyrus scrolls could be housed here. It was a temple of knowledge built in stone – and a tomb incorporated beneath its very floor.

The Heart of the Library: The Scrolls and Knowledge Within

What Was Stored in the Library of Celsus?

The “books” of ancient Ephesus were papyrus scrolls. Each scroll – typically narrow bamboo-like sheets glued end-to-end – was the era’s version of a book. Scribes copied texts by hand, and these rolls could be fairly fragile. The Library of Celsus was specially designed to protect them. As noted, its double walls and raised podium kept dampness at bay. Wooden shelves and cupboards within the niches held the scrolls in safety when the library was in use.

Scholars estimate that the collection numbered around 12,000 scrolls. This might seem modest by today’s standards, but in antiquity it was vast. For comparison, the famed Library of Pergamum probably held on the same order of 9,000–12,000 volumes; Rome’s imperial libraries of Augustus may have held similar numbers. Each scroll covered a work of literature, history, philosophy, or science. As such, Celsus’s library could have contained treatises on Greek philosophy, Roman law, mathematics, rhetoric, medicine, and the classics of Homer, Virgil, Plato and others.

In fact, the surviving evidence hints at such subjects. Inscriptions in the niches above the doorways name the genres of works that could be found on each level (though only fragments of these inscriptions survive). Scholars have pieced together that there were sections for poetry, oratory, history, law, and philosophy. If borrowing was not permitted (as was often the case in ancient libraries), visitors might have studied scrolls there in the reading room. Other scrolls may have been kept in the free-standing wooden cupboards on the floor, expanding the holding capacity to as many as 16,000 scrolls.

How Many Scrolls? A Comparative Collection

The Library of Celsus’s 12,000 scrolls placed it among the great libraries of its day. As a reference, the legendary Library of Alexandria at its peak is said to have held hundreds of thousands of scrolls, and even a far off estimate of 30,000–50,000 is higher than Celsus’s. Pergamum’s was smaller but comparable; it once had about 200,000 volumes of parchment (an even richer collection). Yet for a second-century Anatolian city, Celsus’s library was monumental. Its very size signaled Ephesus’s cultural stature, rivaling Alexandria and Pergamum in prestige.

It is worth emphasizing that Ephesus had not been a cultural backwater; it was the capital of the Roman province of Asia and one of the empire’s largest cities. The library’s size must be seen in that context. To local citizens it communicated that knowledge was as much a pillar of civic identity as commerce and empire.

The Library’s Role in Ephesian Society

The Library of Celsus was open to the public of Ephesus, although likely under regulation. The main hall functioned as a reading room, lit by east-facing windows and surrounded by the scroll-holding niches. Visitors – presumably the literate elite of town – could come to study. (Borrowing scrolls was unlikely, since each copy was valuable.) The surviving [inscription fragments] and layout suggest admission was free and perpetual; the library was a benefaction to the city rather than a pay-for service. In that sense it embodied Roman values of sharing knowledge for communal benefit.

As a social space, the Library of Celsus would have been at the heart of Ephesus’s intellectual life. We can imagine philosophers, lawyers, and students gathering on the marble steps and floors to read, debate, and transact business. The library’s symbolic message was clear: this city valued learning. Together with the nearby School of the Tyrannus or local gymnasia, it helped establish Ephesus as a leading center of Hellenistic scholarship under Roman rule. In short, Celsus’s library served as both mausoleum and museum – a place to honor the past (via the scrolls and tomb) and to foster an informed present.

Decline, Destruction, and Rediscovery: The Library’s Journey Through Time

The Cataclysmic Events: What Happened to the Library of Celsus?

Ephesus and its grand library flourished for only a century or so. Beginning in 262 CE, disaster struck. Historical sources tell us that a Gothic raid (and possibly an accompanying earthquake) set fire to much of Ephesus. The Library of Celsus was gutted by this conflagration: its wooden shelves, scrolls, and internal fittings were destroyed. Only the sturdy marble walls and facade survived the flames. In time, a later earthquake (around the 10th or 11th century) caused the upper portions of the facade to collapse, leaving only the lower half standing.

With the coming of the Byzantine era and later the Ottoman period, Ephesus declined as a metropolis. Over centuries the ruins of Celsus’s library were gradually buried by sand and debris. Local inhabitants even built over parts of the site. By the 6th century, the library was certainly no longer functioning; in fact, archaeologists have unearthed a large pool built on the lower steps of the library. This reflecting pool suggests that by late antiquity the facade was already a ruin and had been turned into a garden feature. In the 19th century the still-standing facade was utterly buried under earth until European explorers began to excavate Ephesus.

The Reawakening: Archaeological Discovery in the 20th Century

Modern awareness of the Library of Celsus began with the excavation of Ephesus. In 1903–1904, the Austrian Archaeological Institute (Österreichisches Archäologisches Institut) conducted the first systematic digs at Ephesus. Led by Josef Keil and Rudolf Heberdey, they cleared away earth from the site and uncovered the fallen fragments of the Celsus facade and its statues. These pioneering archaeologists documented and lifted the shattered pieces, which were eventually sent to museums in Vienna and Istanbul. They recognized the importance of the site but lacked the resources to rebuild it at the time.

Excavations continued sporadically over the decades. More pieces were found, and scholarly publications in the 1930s and 1950s described the structure. However, the ruins remained largely unrestored through the early 20th century. It was not until 1970 that the Library of Celsus began its great modern restoration. A German expedition under archaeologist Volker Michael Strocka took up the challenge: from 1970 to 1978, his team painstakingly re-erected the library’s front wall from the original blocks. This work was a landmark achievement in anastylosis (reconstruction using original elements). Each stone was matched and reset into place, based on drawings and photos from the 1904 excavation. The restoration was documented in meticulous detail and reopened the library to the public. In recognition of this, conservation journals hailed the work as a model of modern archaeology.

The Great Reconstruction (Anastylosis): Reassembling Antiquity

The reconstruction of Celsus’s facade is one of the most celebrated projects in archaeological conservation. By the end of 1978, the two-story façade you see today was standing once again in Ephesus. Every component above the base – columns, entablatures, cornices, and even the ornate pediments – was reassembled from ancient marble. About 20–25% of the facade consists of newly carved replacement stones, used only where originals were missing. The copy statues of the virtues (as noted) were part of this restoration: the archaeologists had the originals safely out of harm’s way in Vienna, so they placed marble replicas in situ.

Today, one can clearly see which parts of the stone are original and which were refitted – the patina and tool marks differ slightly. The meticulous fitting of blocks has returned Celsus’s library to the form (and height) it would have had nearly 2,000 years ago. Importantly, only the facade was rebuilt. The interior walls and vaults remain a ruin beneath the surface; the library’s rear and side walls were not reconstructed, partly because too many stones were missing, and partly by deliberate choice. This means you can walk around and touch the facade’s columns, but you cannot enter the building. In effect, the Library of Celsus today is a modern assembly of ancient pieces – perhaps 75% original material, set in the pattern dictated by the 2nd-century builders.

The Library of Celsus vs. the World: A Comparative Analysis

The Library of Celsus invites comparison with the other great libraries of antiquity, but it stood in a different category. The Library of Alexandria, for example, was a royal foundation begun by the Ptolemaic kings of Egypt in the 3rd century BCE. It was an institution of state, part of the intellectual capital of an empire. In contrast, Celsus’s library was essentially a private legacy: a gift from an Ephesian family to the city. Alexandria’s collection grew over centuries under royal patronage and had a famed system of scribes making copies; Celsus’s grew from a one-time benefaction paid for from a will.

Pergamum’s library, in the nearby Roman province of Asia, was perhaps the closest peer. Pergamum’s kings had once matched Alexandria scroll for scroll and later the Romans endowed it. The Celsus library can be seen as Ephesus’s answer to Pergamum’s prestige. Both were civic libraries symbolizing their cities’ cultural richness. In 2nd-century Anatolia, each new library was a statement of intellectual rivalry: “My city is just as learned and elegant as yours.” In that sense, Celsus’s and Pergamum’s libraries were cut from the same cloth of competition and pride.

A modern myth sometimes arises that the Library of Celsus was among the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.” In reality, it was never counted among them. Ephesus’s true ancient wonder was the Temple of Artemis, a colossal shrine rebuilt nearby (now completely gone). Celsus’s library was built a century later and was not part of that formal list. Yet to many visitors today it exerts a wonder-like spell. Its fame rests not on a single legend, but on its sheer beauty and sophistication. Photographers and historians alike marvel that an archaeological reconstruction can so vividly convey the grandeur of Rome’s age. In cultural memory, the Library of Celsus stands as a symbol of the classical world: a temple of knowledge so perfect in proportion that it seems almost part of the very definition of “ancient marvel.”

A Modern Pilgrim’s Guide: Visiting the Library of Celsus Today

Planning Your Trip to Ephesus

Location and Access: The ruins of Ephesus – including the Library of Celsus – lie near the town of Selçuk in İzmir Province. If you’re traveling from İzmir (Turkey’s third-largest city), getting there is straightforward. Buses and trains regularly connect İzmir to Selçuk (roughly a one-hour journey). Drivers can also reach Selçuk from İzmir in about an hour via the coastal highway. From Selçuk, local minibuses or taxis will bring you to the Ephesus archaeological site entrance. Many tour companies in Izmir, Kuşadası, and Selçuk offer guided Ephesus visits including hotel pickup.

Best Time to Visit: The Aegean climate is Mediterranean: hot, dry summers and mild winters. Spring (April-May) and fall (September-October) have pleasantly warm weather with fewer crowds. During summer, the marble streets and open-air ruins can be sweltering; in that case, visiting early in the morning (sunrise) or late in the afternoon is advisable. Off-season (November–March) sees fewer tourists but shorter daylight hours. Regardless, the Library’s east-facing orientation means its facade is beautifully lit in morning light. Indeed, many photographers aim to arrive around sunrise when the sun strikes the columns and the steps below are largely empty of visitors.

Entrance Hours and Tickets (2025): In 2025 the main site of Ephesus is open year-round, though hours vary by season. April–October (summer) hours are roughly 08:00–19:00, with the last tickets sold one hour before closing. In the off-season (November–March) visiting hours shorten (around 08:30–17:00). Entry to Ephesus costs about €40 for adults (children under 8 enter free with ID). This ticket grants access to the Library of Celsus as well as the theatre, agora, terrace houses, and all other excavated areas of ancient Ephesus. (The Terrace Houses have an extra small fee, but the library itself is included in the main ticket.) Guided tours typically include the Ephesus entry fee in their package, or you can pay on-site. Note that prices and hours can change, so it’s wise to check an official site or reliable travel agency for the current details before you go.

Guided vs. Independent: Visitors can explore Ephesus on their own with an audio guide or map, or join a guided tour for historical commentary. The Library of Celsus, being one of the site’s highlights, is included in virtually every tour itinerary. A guided tour (especially in summer) ensures you arrive early to beat the crowds and see the facade in ideal light. On your own, allocate at least 2–3 hours to walk through the main monuments of Ephesus, including a pause at Celsus. Regardless, allow time to ascend the marble steps in front of the library (these cannot be climbed but serve as a viewing platform) and to circle the facade for different angles.

Navigating the Ephesus Archaeological Site

Upon entering Ephesus, you will approach via Curetes Street, the broad marble-paved main road of the city. The Library of Celsus stands near the end of this street, on its eastern edge. Landmarks: as you walk east down Curetes St., you will first pass the Great Theatre on your left and some arches of the Hercules Gate on your right. A little further on is the two-story Gate of Mazeus and Mithridates; beyond that, just at the bend, the Celsus Library looms ahead to your left. (The library is located near the so-called Lower Agora. Site maps available at the entrance or online will confirm the route.)

Once in front of the library, note the location of amenities: there is a small museum and café near the site entrance (before Curetes St.) where you can refresh. Restrooms are available at the visitor center by the ticket office (outside the archaeological zone). In summer, shade is scarce, so wear a hat and carry water. Comfortable walking shoes are essential: the ancient marble surfaces are uneven and can be slippery when polished by thousands of visitors over centuries.

Can you go inside the Library? No. The interior is closed to visitors. Access is limited to the wide steps and forecourt in front of the facade. The rest of the building’s interior remains partly buried or roofless, and stepping beyond the portal is not allowed. In practice, the experience of “entering” Celsus’s library is visual rather than physical: you view it from the plaza and stairs as if standing at the mouth of the reading room, but the doors are blocked.

Pro Photography Tips: Capturing the Perfect Shot

The Library of Celsus is the most photographed monument in Ephesus, and with good reason: its perfectly preserved façade frames the sky and sun. If you’re bringing a camera, early morning is golden. Just before or after sunrise, the sun illuminates the facade from the right (east) and creates long, dramatic shadows on the steps. Late afternoon works too, with softer light. Avoid noon if possible, as the high sun can make the marble glow white with less contrast. For wide shots, consider backing up beyond the plaza (at the left or right corners) to capture the full width, including the east-west street in front.

To minimize crowds in your photo, compose your frame to exclude others: the steps form natural lines you can use to shoot upward or from below. A slight angle (left or right) instead of dead-center can also help omit clusters of visitors. If you have a telephoto lens, you can focus on details: try framing one of the ornate columns or an arched window with passing people blurred in the foreground. Remember: tripods are not allowed on the steps, so handhold or use a selfie-stick only for smartphones. In short, patience and timing are the keys to an iconic shot of Celsus’s library – something most photographers in Ephesus aspire to capture.

What Else to See Near the Library of Celsus

While the library is the showpiece, Ephesus has many other treasures within easy walking distance:

• The Great Theatre of Ephesus: Just west of Celsus’s library lies the city’s immense theatre, seating up to 25,000 people. It’s carved into the hillside and in surprisingly good condition. If you stand in the Library’s plaza and turn left (northwest), you will soon approach the theatre’s rear staircases. The carved seats and stage building are worth exploring, especially for the magnificent view of mountains beyond.
• Temple of Artemis: A few hundred meters from the library stands the single remaining column of the ancient Temple of Artemis – once considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Although today only one pillar and an altar base remain, the site is historically significant. Local signage and museum displays explain how grand the temple was. Visitors often stroll there after seeing Celsus.
• Terrace Houses: Below the Library to the south (southeast) are the Terrace Houses, a complex of luxury Roman homes with well-preserved frescoes and mosaics. This requires a separate ticket but is a fascinating glimpse of Ephesian domestic life. It’s a short taxi ride or uphill walk from the library.
• Hadrian’s Temple: Just beyond the Library to the east stands the partly restored façade of Hadrian’s Temple. It’s easily seen from the library area; look for a smaller temple adorned with reliefs of Greco-Roman deities.
• Commercial Agora: To the south of the library steps stretches the great open square of the Agora, once the city’s market and civic heart. Ruins of shops and a colonnaded court give a sense of daily life. It connects to Curetes Street behind the library.
• Marble Street (Arcadian Street): Running west-east through the site, Marble Street (marble-paved and once colonnaded) links many of the site’s monuments. Walking a block west on Marble Street from the theatre or east from the library will take you between most major sights.

In other words, you can easily spend 2–3 hours wandering between the library, theatre, agora, and temple. Most visitors place the Library of Celsus at the mid-point of their Ephesus tour.

Essential Visitor Information

• Facilities: The main site entrance area (theatre side) has restrooms, a drink stand, and a small café. There are also souvenir shops. Inside the ruins you’ll find benches near the library for resting. No facilities stand immediately at the library steps themselves.
• What to Wear: Expect bright sun and marble reflections. Light-colored clothing (which won’t heat up) is wise. Remember the steep steps: flat, sturdy walking shoes are strongly recommended. A hat and sunscreen are practically mandatory in summer.
• Mobility: Ephesus’s terrain is uneven and hilly in places. People with serious mobility issues may find it challenging, especially the Theatre area. However, the Library of Celsus plaza is flat and easily accessible once you have entered the site. Electric carts operate on a limited basis from the parking area to the main entrance but do not travel inside the main ruins.
• Photography & Rules: Photography is allowed throughout the site. Drones and tripods require special permission. Climbing on any ruins is prohibited. Always stay on the marked paths and stairs.

With its unparalleled facade and open-air atmosphere, the Library of Celsus continues to enchant modern pilgrims just as it did in antiquity – a temple of learning proudly open to all.

Legacy and Conclusion: The Enduring Symbolism of the Celsus Library

The Library of Celsus has transcended its ancient context to become a modern icon. Even today, nearly twenty centuries after its original construction, it is emblematic of Ephesus in Turkish culture. For example, its front view was featured on Turkey’s 20,000-lira banknote issued in 2005. UNESCO describes it as “one of the most beautiful buildings of the Roman Empire”, a testament to its flawless proportions and rich decoration. In tourism literature and souvenir stands, the facade of Celsus’s library is the most common image representing Ephesus.

The site has appeared in countless documentaries and history books, often as shorthand for the ancient world’s grandeur. Yet curiously, its stories are seldom fully told to the casual visitor. The stone itself does not speak of Celsus or Aquila – no complete inscription survives to narrate their names. To appreciate Celsus’s legacy, one must look closer: at the four virtues guarding the entrance, at the buried sarcophagus below, and at the meticulous reconstruction work that allows this monument to stand again. In this light, the library is more than architecture; it is a cultural palimpsest, recording layers of Roman politics, Greek homage, early Christian era neglect, and 20th-century archaeology.

In the end, the Library of Celsus remains far more than a “pretty ruin.” It symbolizes an era when civic pride and personal legacy were built of stone and scrolls, where a son’s respect for his father was made visible to all. Standing before its facade today, one is reminded that every culture leaves behind the edifices it values most. Celsus’s library, as a repository of knowledge and of history itself, endures as a stirring reminder of that timeless truth.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the story behind the Library of Celsus?
The library was built in the early 2nd century CE by Tiberius Julius Aquila, in honor of his father Celsus Polemaeanus. Celsus had been a wealthy Roman governor of Asia and consul, and wanted to be buried in Ephesus. After his death, Aquila funded a grand building to house his father’s tomb and serve the city. The result was the Library of Celsus – a tomb and a public library containing some 12,000 scrolls.

What was the main purpose of the Library of Celsus?
It served a dual purpose. Primarily it was a public library – a place for the citizens of Ephesus to read and study stored scrolls. But it was also a monumental mausoleum: the lower level contained the tomb of Celsus himself, ensconced in a marble sarcophagus under the floor. Thus it functioned both as an archive of knowledge and as a memorial to Celsus Polemaeanus.

Who are the statues on the facade of the Library of Celsus?
The four statues set in the upper niches are allegories of virtues. They represent Sophia (Wisdom), Episteme (Knowledge), Ennoia (Thought/Intellect), and Arete (Excellence or Virtue). These abstract figures were meant to embody the qualities that Celsus was celebrated for. (The originals are in Vienna’s Ephesos Museum; replicas stand in the facade today.)

Is the Library of Celsus original or a reconstruction?
The facade you see today is largely a reconstruction using original pieces. After centuries in ruin, the wall was rebuilt from the ancient stones between 1970 and 1978 under archaeologist Volker Strocka. All the blocks and carvings on the facade are genuine ancient marble, except where fragments were missing and have been replaced by modern copies. The interior and rear of the building remain unrestored.

Where are the original statues from the library?
All four original statues of the virtues were moved out of Ephesus and are now kept safe in the Ephesos Museum in Vienna, Austria. Only marble replicas stand in their niches in Turkey today. Similarly, the finely carved statue of Celsus that once occupied the central niche (and other decorations) have been placed in museums for preservation.

Can you enter the Library of Celsus?
No. Visitors can climb the front steps and stand at the base of the facade, but you cannot walk through the doors into the interior. The building’s inside is not accessible; only the courtyard and steps are open. The library was roofless and half-buried for many centuries, and modern reconstructions left it as an enclosed wall rather than a usable building. From the outside you can fully appreciate its design, but the ancient reading room remains closed off.

How much does it cost to see the Library of Celsus?
The Library of Celsus is included in the entrance ticket for Ephesus. As of 2025, the fee for the main archaeological site (which covers all ruins including Celsus, the theatre, etc.) is about €40. (Children under 8 enter free.) If you wish to visit the Terrace Houses as well, there is a small additional charge. Ticket sales end about one hour before closing. Always check the latest price and hours before you go, as they can change with the season.