Terrace Houses in Ephesus

The so‑called hillside houses are two complexes (so called insulae) of Roman private residential buildings in Ephesus in present‑day Turkey.

Both insulae are situated on the southern slope of Bülbüldağ, the larger of the two city hills of Ephesus. The better preserved “Hillside House 2” occupies an area of about 4000 m² and borders to the north on the so‑called Kureten Street. The Roman residential construction in the form visible today began in the Roman imperial period, its use in the structure visible today ended with the destruction of Hillside House 2 by an earthquake in the third quarter of the 3rd century AD. Hillside House 2 is especially noteworthy for its well‑preserved wall paintings, which are largely dated to the 3rd century AD. It is the most extensive and best‑preserved find of wall paintings of this period from the eastern Roman Empire so far.

The covered complex of the hillside houses can be reached via a separate entrance within Ephesus. An additional admission fee is charged.

Furniture pieces and small finds from the hillside houses as well as some wall paintings are exhibited in the Hall of House Finds at the Ephesus Museum in Selçuk.