Terrace Houses
Terrace Houses: Homes of the Rich & Famous in Ephesus
The Terrace Houses of Ephesus are a unique glimpse into the private lives of some of the wealthiest citizens of the ancient. Located along Curetes Street, across from the Hadrian Temple, these seven houses and the families that lived in them were at the centre of Ephesus’ busiest district. The Houses are built on three separate terraces, three on the 1st and two each on the 2nd and 3rd, sharing only sidestreets and alleyways. Though these terraces were first dugout in the 1st century BC, the homes viewable today weren’t built until the end of the 1st century AD. These homes were owned by the wealthiest Ephesians: highly ranked Roman Army officers, governors, and wealthy merchants and were very large compared to the single rooms many poorer Ephesians would live in with their entire family.
The homes were two-stories tall centred around a peristyle, an open courtyard. All the rooms of the house opened only to this central space, preventing burglars from entering through windows. The peristyle usually had a fountain, or at least a pool, in the centre which would collect rainwater for drinking; water could also be collected from private wells inside each house. These houses also had private baths with hot and cold running water supplied by clay pipes running under the floors and inside the walls. Clay pipes were also used in the homes’ central heating systems.
The most incredible part of the homes, however, is the beautiful artwork on the floors and walls. The walls feature amazing stucco sculptures and paintings depicting mythological scenes. Meanwhile, the floors are decorated with brilliant mosaics, some still being painstakingly pieced together by archaeologists, who you can see still hard at work excavating and reconstructing these domestic ruins.
For a totally immersive experience of Ephesus and the wider region, visit our 7 day Ephesus Highlights tour.