Browse Items (11 total)

  • Collection: Library of Celsus (Ephesus, Turkey)

Sophia Klesou (the Wisdom of Celsus).
Three photographs.

Three of the fours statues on the facade of the library. The first is Sophia Klesou (the Wisdom of Celsus), the next is Arete Klesou (the Excellence of Celsus). and the last is Epsiteme Klesou (the Knowledge of Celsus). These…

Left side of the reading room.
Three photographs.

The left and right sides of the reading room show the doorways to the passageways between the two walls. The two walls helped trap the condensation, which could damage the books. Also, these passageways led to the staircase to…

Library of Celsus-Reading Room Floor (2013-04-30b 216).JPG
The floor of the Library of Celsus. This appears to be new stone, perhaps based on a design found in the library or elsewhere. It was restored with the rest of the building 1970-1978.

Turkish inscription, Library of Celsus.
These inscriptions, in German and Turkish, are on either side of the main entrance into the Library of Celsus. The translation is:

"Library and memorial of Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus. With the agreement of the general administration for…

Celsus library before reconstruction (resized).jpg
This photograph is probably from when the library was first excavated. There is no facade to speak of, and the inside room of the library is clearly visible.

Library of Celsus-Inside (2013-04-30b 206).JPG
This central apse probably contained a larger than life statue of Julius Celsus Polemaenus, the man for whom the building was named. Celsus' tomb is also under the apse. A hallway between the walls led to a staircase down to the crypt.

Library of Celsus-Facade Ceiling Detail (2013-04-30b 218).JPG
A close-up of one of the ceilings between the columns and the wall of the facade of the Library of Celsus. The ceiling is divided into four with flowers in the center of each square, which is in turn decorated around the sides.

Library of Celsus-Front Steps (2013-04-30b 223).JPG
The central entrance of three into the Library of Celsus is pictured. The size of the people can be contrasted with the columns. In front of the door at the bottom of the steps is the remains of an altar.

Library of Celsus-Facade (2013-04-30b 199).JPG
Two photographs.

The first is the facade as it was reconstructed in the 1970s. The second is a close-up of the two sets of columns and ceilings on the Library of Celsus facade. The column capitals are a hybrid of the Ionic order. Some of the…

plan-of-Celsus-library-Ephesus.jpg
This plan shows the three doors into the interior as well as the recessed niches for the bookcases, common in Roman library architecture. The apse in the middle of the far wall probably held a statue of Celsus, since his tomb is directly below. The…
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