During
its history Ephesus was four times the
Neochoros, that is, the place where the
emperor's temple was situated. In those times to
have the emperor's temple in the city was quite
an honor.
Ephesus won
this right for the first time under Domitian
(81-96 AD). In the southern part of Domitian's
Square was a flat terrace 50 by 100m where the
temple stood.
 Nothing
much is left of it now but the size of the
podium is known to have been 24 by 24m with
eight rows of crepis. The temple was in prostyle
formation. There were eight columns on the short
sides and three on the long. There was also a
platform 9 by 17m with four columns in front.
The altar was 10m in front of the platform in a
"U" shape with steps leading up to it. Part of
the beautiful workmanship can be seen in the
Ephesus Museum. In order to pay their debt of
gratitude for locating the temple in their city,
the Ephesians erected a statue of Domitian five
meters tall in front of the temple. It was seven
meters together with its pedestal. Parts of the
statue are in the museum.
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