*Efes,Izmir/Turkey

*Ephesus, Library of Celsus, Gate of Augustus

One of the most beautiful structures in Ephesus. Built in 135 A.D., it is a monumental tomb for Gaius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus, the governor of the province of Asia; from his son Galius Julius Aquila. The grave of Celsus is beneath the ground floor, across the entrance. The building was used as a library, the scrolls of the manuscripts were kept in cupboards in niches on the walls. There were double walls behind the bookcases, probably to prevent the manuscripts from humidity. The capacity of the library was more than 12,000 scrolls.
The facade of the library is two-storied, with Corinthian style columns on the ground floor, and behind it, there are three entrances to the building. The one in the middle is higher than the other two. The statues in the niches of the columns today are the copies of the originals, which were taken to Viana on the excavations in 1910. The statues symbolize wisdom (Sophia), knowledge (Episteme), intelligence (Ennoia) and virtue (Arete) of Celsus.

The gate at the right of the Celsus Library was built in 40 A.D by the slaves Mazeus and Mythridates for their emperor, Augustus, who gave them their freedom.
A Latin inscription with inlaid letters made of bronze is still visible on one side of the structure. Part of the inscription states: "From the Emperor Caesar Augustus, the son of the god, the greatest of the priests, who was consul twelve and tribune twenty times; and the wife of August Livia; the son of Lucus, Marc Agrippa who was consul three times, Emperor, and tribune six times; and the daughter of Julio Caesar Augustus, Mazeus and Mythridates to their master and the people."
The small area in front of the gate was used as an auditorium. The steps around the gate, in front of the library and the round pedestal were used as seats.