Ephesus Arsinoeion-Octagon — Sanctuary Terrace of Arsinoe
Arsinoeion Ephesus · Octagon of Ephesus
Hellenistic to Roman (288 BCE – 262 CE)·Ptolemaic to Roman Ephesian·🇹🇷 Izmir Province, Selçuk district, Ephesus Curetes street terrace north of Library, Turkey
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About
About Ephesus Arsinoeion-Octagon — Sanctuary Terrace of Arsinoe
Sanctuary terrace on Curetes Street at Ephesus 40 m north of the Library of Celsus, housing the Arsinoeion rotunda (36 m diameter, 288 BCE for Arsinoe II) and the Octagon tomb of Arsinoe IV (-41 BCE), the murdered Ptolemaic princess. Terrace 60×80 m with Heroon and sacred way paving from Artemision. Excavated 1906 Austrian institute.
Why it mattersLinks Ephesian Artemision cult to Ptolemaic dynastic politics via hero terrace
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Octagon occupant Arsinoe IV vs other Arsinoe debate
- 02Arsinoeion roof form conjectural
Theories
- 01Ptolemaic exiled court at Ephesus thesis
- 02Artemis asylum hero cult fusion
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Arsinoeion 288 BCE; Octagon 41 BCE; terrace remodel 115 CE
- Period
- Hellenistic to Roman (288 BCE – 262 CE)
- Culture
- Ptolemaic to Roman Ephesian
- Purpose
- Dynastic hero cult and processional terrace to Artemision
- Abandoned
- c.262 Gothic sack
- Excavation
- Excavated
288 BCE
Arsinoeion dedicated
41 BCE
Arsinoe IV murdered at temple then Octagon burial
1906
Austrian Ephesus excavation start
On the ground
Structures & features
37.9380° N · 27.3420° E · 21 m · 3 mapped features
Gallery