The Lower Agora (or the Lower Market) in Ephesus was built during the Hellenistic period, around the 3rd century BCE, but it acquired its final architectural form during Roman rule in the 1st century CE, under emperors Augustus and Nero. Located in a valley between hills, near the harbor, it served as a key commercial and social hub of the city.
Unlike the Upper Agora, which had administrative functions, the Lower Agora was primarily a trade and business center. Here, merchants sold grain, oil, wine, textiles, spices, and slaves, while deals were struck among traders from across the Mediterranean.
Architecture and Layout of the Lower Agora
The Agora was a large rectangular square (approximately 110 × 110 meters), surrounded by colonnades (stoas) with Doric and Ionic columns. Beneath these porticoes were shops, workshops, and money changers` offices. At the center of the square stood a small altar or temple dedicated to the patron deity of trade—most commonly Hermes or Isis.
On the western side of the Agora stood the Bouleuterion (council house), where city officials convened, while the eastern side connected to the Marble Street, leading to the Great Theatre and the Library of Celsus. The perimeter of the square featured fountains and statues, and the floor was paved with marble slabs.
The Agora was a bustling center of daily life in Ephesus:
• Trade – Merchants offered goods from Egypt, Syria, Greece, and Italy.
• Finance – Money changers exchanged coins from different cities and provided loans.
• Politics – The Bouleuterion was where city affairs were decided.
• Religion – Processions in honor of the gods were held in the Agora.
• Socializing – Philosophers, poets, and ordinary citizens gathered under the porticoes to discuss news.
The Marble Street: Path from the Great Theatre to the Library of Celsus
One of the most impressive streets in Ephesus was the Marble Street (Lat. Via Marmorea), stretching from the Great Theatre (which seated 25,000 spectators) to the Library of Celsus, running alongside the Lower Agora. It was about 400 meters long and up to 11 meters wide.
• Pavement – The street was paved with large slabs of white and gray marble, polished by thousands of footsteps.
• Decor – Statues, columns, and lanterns lined the street, while an advanced drainage system ran beneath it.
• Function – It served as the main artery connecting the city’s cultural and commercial centers. Religious processions, especially during festivals honoring Artemis, passed through it.
• Relics – Some slabs still bear engraved game boards (such as "Nine Men`s Morris"), used by merchants and visitors to the Agora.
The Lower Agora and the Marble Street were symbols of Ephesus’ wealth and power. Here, trade, politics, and culture intersected, and the grand architecture reflected the city’s status as one of the most important centers of the ancient world. Today, the ruins of these structures allow us to imagine the vibrant life of this ancient metropolis.
