The Commercial Agora

🏛 The Commercial Agora: Ephesus’ Cultural & Trade Hub

📍 Location: Ephesus, Turkey
📜 Significance: The heart of trade in Asia Minor and a Silk Road crossroads

🛍️ The Marketplace of the Ancient World
The Commercial Agora, also known as the Tetragonos Agora, was Ephesus’ primary trade center and a crucial hub in the Roman Empire.

🔹 Silk Road Terminal – Goods from Asia, Europe, and Africa arrived here before continuing into Roman markets.
🔹 Slave Market – The second-largest in the ancient world.
🔹 Political & Economic Center – Hosted merchants, politicians, and guild meetings.

✨ Ephesus’ Role in the Roman Era:
🔸 Capital of Asia Province under Roman rule.
🔸 Emperor Augustus expanded the Agora (27 BC -14 AD).
🔸 Key stop for traders finishing their Silk Road journey.

🏛 Architectural Features
🔹 110m x 110m Square Layout – A perfect square, lined with stoas (covered pathways).
🔹 Merchants’ Stalls – Located between columned aisles, where goods were sold.
🔹 Water Clock & Sundial – Legal timekeeping device for court speeches (20-minute limit).
🔹 100+ Rooms – Used for political meetings and guild gatherings.

⛩️ The Three Grand Gates
🚪 Harbor Gate – Connected the Agora to Ephesus’ busy port.
🚪 Theater Gate – Led directly to the Great Theater of Ephesus.
🚪 Gate of Mazaeus & Mithridates – A grand entrance near the Celsus Library.

📍 Nearby Must-See Attractions
🏛 Celsus Library – One of the most famous landmarks of Ephesus.
🏛 Great Theater – The largest theater in Asia Minor, seating 25,000.
🏛 Temple of Artemis – One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

📌 Explore Ephesus’ Trade & Culture
✨ Join a guided tour to uncover the secrets of Ephesus’ commercial and political power.
🔹 Ephesus Full-Day Tour – Includes the Agora, Celsus Library & Great Theater.
🔹 Biblical Ephesus & 7 Churches Tour – Discover early Christian influence on the city.

👣 Step into history and walk the same paths as ancient merchants & politicians! 🏺📜