The Ephesus Marble Road, usually called Marble Street, is the paved avenue that connects the Library of Celsus with the Great Theatre. It was part of the Sacred Way, the processional route that led out of the city towards the Temple of Artemis. The street was built in the 1st century AD and repaired and renovated many times in the following centuries.
Walking its worn marble slabs is one of the highlights of a visit to Ephesus. In a few hundred metres you pass the city's great market, an intriguing street carving and some of its best views.
History of Marble Street
Marble Street took its name from the large marble blocks used to pave it. It ran north from the square in front of the Library of Celsus, beside the commercial agora, to the Great Theatre, where it met the Harbour Street (Arcadiane) leading to the ancient harbour.
The side of the street facing the agora was built against the agora's walls. In the time of Emperor Nero, in the 1st century AD, a raised walkway was added on this side. On the opposite side there was a covered pavement with shops behind it, similar to the arrangement on Curetes Street. You can still see grooves worn by cart wheels in the paving, and holes left by later repairs.
Marble Street and the Sacred Way
Marble Street was more than a shopping street. As part of the Sacred Way, it formed a stage of the route used by religious processions honouring Artemis, the patron goddess of Ephesus. Her great sanctuary, the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, lay outside the city near today's Selçuk.
An inscription from the early 2nd century AD records a foundation set up by a wealthy citizen, Gaius Vibius Salutaris, for a regular procession that carried statuettes of the goddess and other figures through the city and into the theatre. Processions like this would have passed along this street, past crowds in the shops and on the raised walkway.
The street also served the harbour. Goods arriving by sea came up the Harbour Street and were sold in the agora beside Marble Street. Over the centuries the harbour silted up, and the coast is now several kilometres away, which is one reason the city declined.
The Famous Foot Carving
In the middle of the street, on the agora side, a small group of figures is carved into one of the slabs and now protected. They show a woman's head, a left foot and a heart-like shape. Many people believe they were an advertisement pointing the way to the so-called Brothel (Love House) at the corner of Curetes Street.
This interpretation is popular with guides and visitors, and the carving is often called the first advertisement in history. There is no inscription to prove its meaning, however, so it is best enjoyed as an intriguing detail rather than a fact.
What to See Along Marble Street
The street is short, but many key monuments of Ephesus are on or near it:
- The Library of Celsus and the Gate of Mazaeus and Mithridates at its southern end,
- the commercial (Tetragonos) agora, the main market of the city, on the western side,
- the protected foot carving in the paving,
- The Great Theatre at the northern end, cut into the slope of Mount Pion,
- views down the Harbour Street towards where the ancient harbour once was.
Tips for Walking the Marble Road
- Most visitors start at the upper (southern) entrance and walk downhill along Curetes Street, then turn onto Marble Street towards the theatre and the lower exit.
- The polished marble can be slippery, especially when wet. Wear shoes with good grip.
- There is very little shade. In summer, come early in the morning and carry water.
- Pause at the top of the theatre's lower rows to look back over the street and the agora.
Our Ephesus travel guide covers how to reach the site from Selçuk, Kuşadası and Izmir, and when to visit Ephesus explains which months are most comfortable for walking.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Marble Road in Ephesus?
It is the marble-paved street that connects the Library of Celsus with the Great Theatre. It was part of the Sacred Way that led to the Temple of Artemis.
When was Marble Street built?
It was built in the 1st century AD and renovated many times in later centuries. A raised walkway was added on the agora side in the time of Emperor Nero.
What is the foot carving on Marble Street?
It is a slab carved with a woman's head, a left foot and a heart-like shape. It is popularly thought to point the way to the so-called Brothel, but its meaning is not proven.
How long does it take to walk Marble Street?
The street itself takes only a few minutes to walk, but allow extra time to stop at the library, the agora, the foot carving and the theatre.
Starting your trip in Istanbul?
Before you travel on, see Istanbul from the water: a private yacht cruise on the Bosphorus, only for your group.