Baths on the State Agora (Ephesus)

The Baths of the Administrative Agora is the name used by archaeology for ancient Roman baths of the city of Ephesus in Asia Minor, in present-day Turkey. Their ruins are part of the archaeological site of Ephesus, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

History

They were built during the Roman Empire in the 2nd century AD. The building was previously misinterpreted as the Baths of Varo, which, however, in light of modern research, was the same building as the Baths of Varo and was located on Curetes Street. Therefore, the building still appears in several older works and signposts.

Features

They were located at the northeast corner of the Agora, east of the Basilica-estoa. In many aspects they resemble the Baths of Faustina of Miletus. The caldarium of the western part of the building, with seven hot pools in niches, is especially well preserved. On the north side, the building was partially excavated into the rocky slope of the hill. On the south and west sides of the baths there were rooms with floors decorated with mosaics dating from 400 AD. The baths were probably associated with a palestra. There was also a gymnasium nearby.