State Agora of Ephesus (Forum)
Agora is the word, Agorafobia is originated from. Agorafobia is the opposite of Clostrofobia which is the fear of going to closed areas. Agorofobia is the fear of going to open areas. Agoras were places where people gathered. Ephesus such a big city had 2 agoras. One is used for political reasons the other one served as a market place for commercial reasons.
The State Agora which also today known as the Political Agora was a vast public square laid out and remodeled during the reign of Augustus (27 BC-14 AD). It was a public area where people gathered for political and social reasons. It was bordered by stoas on three sides and decorated with sculptures. Stoas were one side wall one side collonaded roofed structures, providing shelter during rainy days and hot summer days. In these stoas some days philosphers were giving courses to their pupils. In the center there was a temple dedicated to the Egyptian godess Isis, built for the visit of Marcus Antonius and Cleaopatra in 42BC. Pink granite columns are the remains of the temple dedicated to Isis. Since there are no quarries in Anatolia for pink granite. The pink granite pieces seen are the proves of a relation between Egypt and Ephesus. All major laws and decisions were voted in this chamber. On the side of the State Agora a big cistern can be noticed. Water used to be carried to the city by Aquaducts & terra cotta pipes from several sources around Ephesus. Clay pipes can be noted. They are approximately 1500 years old. Had a locking system and glued to each other with a mortar mixture of clay dust, marble dust and egg white. We know that Romans also used lead pipes and found out that lead is against health therefore continued using clay pipes. Plumbus is the greek word for pipe where the word Plumer is also originated from. Before the Lysamachus settlement, the cemetery (Necropolis: meaning the city of deadth) of the old city was located here. It was one of the reasons why people refused to move the new city. During the Roman period the cemetery was moved. |
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* I is the first letter of Iesous, for Jesus in ancient Greek..
* X (ch) is the first letter of Christos, for Christ in ancient Greek. * Theta (th) is the first letter of Theou, for God in ancient Greek. * Y (u) is the first letter of huios, for Son in ancient Greek . * Sigma (s) is the first letter of soter, for Savior in ancient Greek. |