Serapeion (Temple of Serapis)
Ephesus, Turkey
2nd century CE
24 m high
The Serapeion of Ephesus lies close to the Tetragonos Agora , on the South Street, on a flat space measuring 100 × 75 m which was created after the demolition of residences in that area dating to the Late Hellenistic period. The sacred complex included two-storey Corinthian stoas and an octastyle prostyle temple on the south side. It was built during the 2nd cent. AD to house the worship of Serapis, connected with healing of diseases through a regimen of ritual purifications conducted inside the temple.
A large terrace measuring approximately 100 x 75 m was created in the early 2nd cent. CE on an outcropping of Mt Bulbuldag over the ruins of houses dating to the Late Hellenistic Period, to accommodate the temple’s precinct. The retaining wall, symmetrically arranged with an N-S axis, was created by extracting the natural rock and using it to form various access levels. The main entrance of the complex lay on the north narrow side, where an impressive staircase led up from the West Street, while another stairway, from the SW corner of the Tetragonos Agora, led to the temple
At the centre of the complex’s south side stood the octastyle prostyle temple (measuring 29.20 x 36.70 m), which rested on a high podium. Access was possible only through a staircase on the main façade. Eight monolithic Corinthian columns approx. 15 m. tall supported a richly decorated entablature and formed a deep porch. Pilasters were formed in regular intervals on the wall of the portico. Entrance to the cella was made through a large door opening (5 m in width and approx. 6 m in height).
The cella was 30 m deep and was covered by an arch. Six small niches are set into each of the longitudinal walls, while there was also a central niche in the middle of the south wall, where the cult statue was installed flanked by two smaller niches. Vertical slits in all niches served to let in water, which subsequently flowed into a peripheral channel in the cella floor. Two side aisles were formed in the east and west side of the cella, on the walls of which more niches exist, apparently not connected to a water supply. On the south side of the cella two narrow stairways were uncovered, which is uncertain whether they were used for egress from the temple or if they are related to the worship, leading to an attic, which would have been situated above the cella. The walls of the temple were made of local limestone, while for the construction of the barrel vault large conglomerate stones were employed.
The complex was defined by Corinthian two-storeyed colonnades approx. 6 m in depth and 15 m in height. The columns of the stoas rest on Attic-Ionic bases integrated with the pedestals. The shafts of the columns were unfluted, monolithic and supported an Ionic entablature with a three-fasciae architrave, frieze and horizontal cornice. On the second floor, the entablature was supported by pillars with attached Corinthian half-columns. The rear wall of the stoas was panelled, at least on the ground floor, with marble slabs, between which pilasters with Attic bases and Corinthian anta capitals were formed. The roof tiles were of Laconian and Corinthian type and were made of marble and clay. The lavish decoration of the stoas was complemented by bronze statues, fragments of which were unearthed during the excavations. The architecture of the stoas –especially the ornamentation of the capitals – is attributed to the Aphrodisias workshop, craftsmen from which had also worked on the Harbour Gymnasium of Ephesus.
