The Temple of Domitian
The Temple of Domitian in the Ancient City of Ephesus was the first temple dedicated to a Roman emperor. It was located in Domitian Square, alongside notable structures such as the Nike Relief, the Memmius Monument, and the Fountain of Pollio. With the rise of the imperial period under Augustus, the first emperor of Rome, emperors began to declare themselves as gods. Similarly, the tyrannical Emperor Domitian (A.D. 81–96) declared himself both ruler and god. Out of fear and obligation, the people of Ephesus constructed the Temple of Domitian in his honor on a terrace at the foot of Mount Koressos, a central location in the city.
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The Road from Prythaneion to Domitian Square
There is a road that leads from the Prythaneion to the Domitian Square, and on both sides of the road, there are pedestals with figures on them. The one on the left shows God Hermes, who with one hand is holding the horns of a ram and with the other a caduceus, which is his symbol. On the other side of the pedestal, there is a rod, and underneath it is a snake (So-called the rod of Asclepius). The purpose of neither of the pedestals is known.
The Layout and Features of Domitian Square
Some parts of the Domitian Square have been dug. The architectural marble columns in the square’s middle belong to the surrounding buildings. The circular memorial, ornamented with garlands and placed in the very middle of the columns, was brought here in the 4th century A.D. from another part of the city and was put there negligently. Right beside this, there is a flying Nike, holding a wreath, in high relief. This triangular architectural piece belongs to the Heracles Gate at the beginning of Curetes Street.
The Path Leading to Pion Mountain and the Agora
From the Square, there is a southward, narrow road that leads to Pion Mountain. On the Agora side of the road, there are two-floored vaulted stores and buildings that were used for various purposes. The west side of the stores still has been excavated.
Death of the Emperor Domitian
The Temple of Domitian served multiple purposes, including worship, as Emperor Domitian regarded himself as a god and a center for cultural and intellectual activities. It was also a venue for public ceremonies and festivals in Ephesus. In the 14th year of his reign, the unpopular and ruthless Domitian was assassinated in his sleep by one of his servants. His death proved to the Ephesians that he was not an immortal god, as he had claimed.
