A giant jigsaw puzzle in Ephesus
The Terrace House 2 is probably my favourite part of Ephesus. This huge area—4000 square metres—has been completely covered, which means it is well protected from the elements and archaeologists are able to work year-round.
It’s a residential area, built during the early Roman Imperial period (about 20AD), with three terraces with six separate residences. Each home has a peristyle courtyard, surrounded by living and work spaces. Water supply and drainage were provided by wells and a ramified canal system.
The reception rooms (which still exist) are richly decorated, while domestic areas such as toilet and kitchens would have been simply furnished. The upper floors (which no longer exist) would have been especially luxurious and probably used only for banquets and receptions.
A series of earthquakes in the 3rd century AD destroyed these dwellings. An unexpected benefit from this sudden disaster meant that a large collection of domestics utensils were preserved in the earthquake strata.
Of course, the earthquake left a huge mess too and archaeologists think of the site as one giant jigsaw puzzle. Imagine trying to figure out where all those little bits go?
I’ve posted quite a few pics and a map of the Terrace House to give you an idea of its size, detail and decoration.
Where to next? 
Hi Peggy, we did a 2 week tour of Turkey in December 2015. And Gallipoli was a place where I became very emotional. And Ephesus is where there is the Goddess of Victory, right? I loved being in Turkey. And I enjoyed freshly squeezed pomegranate juice every day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Turkey is such a wonderful country to visit. Amazing sites, great hospitality and wonderful food. A waiter there once told me that a little bit of pomegranate molasses is a secret ingredient in many of their salad dressings.
LikeLike