THE FOUNTAIN OF TRAJAN EPHESUS
The Fountain of Trajan is an ancient well preserved structure next to the Temple of Hadiran at the north end of Curetes Street. Because of the inscription on the fountain, it is known that it was built in the 2nd century in order to make Emperor Trajan honored.
The fountain of Trajan is one of the three most magnificent fountains of Ephesus.There were two ornamental pools belonging to the structure. One of them was in the front facade and the other one was at the rear side. The upper level pool was used to be surrounded with Corinthian style columns. Water was flowing from a pillar on which there was a colossal statue of Emperor Trajan. This pillar was just at the center of the large pool. As understood from an inscription at the base, it was symbolizing the world which rests at the emperor’s feet. This was symbolized by a round stone placed under the foot of the emperor’s statue. Unfortunatelyi only the pedestal and one of the feet belonging to the statue have remained for today.
Above from a disttance & Below close up view of the round marble stone which symbolizes the world under the feet of Emperor Trajan. the ormomental pool area is surrounded by corinthian type columns.
A lower pool which is narrower than the rear one is surrounded with Composite style columns that were located directly beneath the pool to hold the emperor’s statue. After the upper pool is filled up, the water would flow from a channel into the front pool where the people of Ephesus were able to use it. This pool were used to be ornomented with the statues of Aphrodite, two Dionysos statues one of which was nude and the other clothed, Androklos the founder of the city, a statue of Emperor Nerva and his family, and a statue of a Satyr. They all were found during the excavation in the area. The fountain has recently been renovated and these statues have all been located to the Archaeological Museum of Ephesus.
The original pool was 20 meters long and 10 meters wide. It has been recreated on a smaller scale and the restoration of the fountain is ongoing.
The original appearance of the facade of the fountain was possibly looking like the edited photo above. Statue of Androclus depicted with his dog as a hunter, 2nd century AD, from the Fountain of Trajan Below
Below is the imaginary scetch of the Fountain of Trajan
Click on the links below for other pages of Ephesus
Ephesus/Terrace Houses, Ephesus/Celcus Library Ephesus/Temple of Hadrianus Ephesus/Temple of Artemis The Church of St. Mary
Ephesus/Other Historical Attractions
Ephesus / Fountain of Trajan
