Middle Harbour Gate

Roman, reign of Hadrian (mid-2nd century CE), made of marble, stood at Ephesus at the west end of the Arcadiane Street

During the Roman Empire period, visitors arriving at Ephesus by ship entered the city through monumental gateways. One of the metropolis' main arteries was the Arcadiane, which led from the harbour to the city's large theatre. The Middle Harbour Gate, marking the street's western end, was erected during the reign of Emperor Hadrian. The gateway comprised four canopies, each resting on four Ionic columns; a wall connected the canopies with the three arched gates. On its narrow sides, a pillar was placed between the outer columns.

The quality of the gate's architectural decor is outstanding. The Ionic capitals imitate Classical models from the 5th century BCE. These stylistic recourses are most obvious in the pillar- and anta capitals: their side planes are decorated with an acanthus leaf below which grow volutes that develop along the edges before curling up to form the side ends of the profiled cornices of the main façade (egg-and-dart, palmettes, egg-and-dart). Its models are archaic and classical anta capitals like those found in the temple of Apollo at Didyma.

Image used in

• Ephesos-Museum