Ruins of the ancient library of Celcus in Ephesus, Turkey. Built by the Romans in the 2nd century AD, it held 12,000 scrolls kept in niches around the walls; a gap between the inner and outer walls of the main library protected the scrolls from extreme changes of temperature and humidity.

The ruins of the Celsus library at Ephesus, in Turkey. It was built in honour of Celsus Polemaeanus, the Roman governor of Asia Minor, by his son Julius Aquila in 135 AD. It is estimated that the library at one time contained as many as 12,000 books.

Amphitheatre at Ephesus, Turkey. Situated 10 km/6 mi inland from the Aegean Sea and 700 km/435 mi south of Istanbul, Ephesus was the most important Greek city in Ionian Asia Minor. The amphitheatre, which holds approximately 25,000 spectators, was completed under the Roman emperor Trajan during the 2nd century. It was excavated in the mid-19th century by archaeologists from the British Museum, and is still used as a performance space.

Amphitheatre at Ephesus, eastern Turkey. The Roman amphitheatre at Ephesus in eastern Turkey could originally seat 25,000 people. Building began under the emperor Claudius (AD 41-54) and was completed under Trajan (98-117). The theatre, set on the western slope of Panayir Dag, is one of many famous buildings in Ephesus, including the Temple of Artemis.

Temple of Hadrian, Ephesus, Turkey. The 7.2 m/24 ft by 5 m/15 ft Temple of Hadrian was built in Ephesus between 117 and 138. It was restored and rededicated in 391 by the Christian emperor Theodosius.