2000-Year-Old Roman Bath Restored in Ancient City of Ephesus

A 2000-year-old 70-acre Roman Bath has been completely restored in the ancient Greek city of Ephesus in modern-day Turkey.

Professor Dr. Serdar Aybek, one of the project coordinators and a faculty member of the Department of Archaeology at Dokuz Eylul University in Turkey, announced the restoration of the Port Bath despite the arrival of winter. The Port Bath was found in 1895 and has received renewed interest. The bath features an oval hall, courtyard, toilets, pools and a gymnasium.

The foundation of Ephesus

Ephesus was founded in the 10th century BCE by Greek settlers, likely from Athens or the Ionian city-states, and became one of the most prominent cities of Ionia, a region of ancient Asia Minor.

However, long before the establishment of Ephesus, Mycenaean presence in the area can be traced back to the 15th century BCE. In 1954, a Mycenaean-era burial ground, dating to approximately 1500–1400 BCE, was uncovered near the ruins of the Basilica of St. John. The site contained ceramic pots and dates to a period of Mycenaean expansion, when they began settling in Asia Minor—a process that persisted into the 13th century BCE.

The ancient city of Ephesus

Located on the estuary of the River Kaystros, the ruins of the city comprise both ancient Greek and Roman ruins.

It is an UNESCO World Heritage site because of its historical significance and massive collection of ancient ruins, including the Temple of Greek goddess Artemis, which is hailed as one of the Seven Wonders of the World and drew pilgrims from all over the world back when it stood tall. The Library of Celsus and the Great Theater are just some of the Imperial Roman archaeological finds that have been made in Ephesus. 

“New, well-preserved sections are being uncovered. Moving forward, we will focus on leveling ground surfaces and re-erecting columns in their original locations in parallel with surveying and documentation work,” said Aybek.

The ancient city stands as the perfect example of what an ancient Greco-Roman port city would have looked like, being a lucrative center of exchange and a place with a high concentration of citizens and merchants. Once a center of trade in the ancient world, Ephesus played a key role in the history of Christianity, as its church was one of the recipients of Saint Paul’s epistles that ended up in the New Testament of the Bible.

This is how Ancient Greece really looked like.

This is a reconstruction of Curetes Street in Ancient Ephesus. It shows how colorful Ancient Greece was.

Ephesus, was built in the 10th century BCE on the coast of Ionia. This is one of the greatest archaeological treasures on… pic.twitter.com/DHNQp96uun

— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) January 20, 2024

The Roman Bath House in Ephesus

Aybek and a team of nearly 100 people have been on the site, working on restoring the site despite the arrival of winter. They are now focusing on a 1,870-foot street that leads up to the Great Theater.

“We continue to work with a team of 70-80 people,” said Aybek.

The Port Bath is a marvel of ancient engineering and a perfect representation of the ideal Roman bath. Roman bathhouses were important in the time of the Empire, as they were not only used for hygiene but also were key social centers and a place where plenty of political and economic discussions would take place. The Ephesian bath is the largest one ever found in the region, indicating its importance in the city and the region in ancient times.

“We have uncovered the largest bath of the Roman Empire on Anatolian lands,” said Aybek.