It's a Puzzle - Restoring the Terrace Houses of Ephesus

February 01, 2011
Returning to our tour of Ephesus...
 
There's an area at Ephesus that is being restored with the help of the Austrian government.  It's the Terrace Houses where the wealthy Romans would've lived within the city.  Ephesus was the second largest city in the Roman Empire, behind Rome, with a population of 250,000.  At the time these were the largest cities in the world!  
 
The restoration required is tremendous due to the amount of time that has passed.  Built in the 1st century BC, destruction and conquering by different groups, and then in the 7th century - a very large earthquake hit the area.  It's amazing what the archaelogists, artists, engineers, etc are accomplishing though. 
 
 
The tables set up inside one area remind me of doing those large puzzles with many pieces.  (I used to do them all the time and miss doing them!  I think I'm going to have to set up a table...)  You won't believe the number of pieces they're working with though just to restore these 3 walls of marble!  You may want to click on the photos to see them blown up larger.  The wall on the left above is almost done, but keep watching...
 
 

more puzzle pieces to unload!

They're making great progress.  Mosaic floors restored:
 
 
 
The Terrace Houses were multi-level homes built into the hill.  This photo gives you an idea of how they were laid out and if you close your eyes you might be able to imagine the the elite in togas sipping wine or otherwise enjoying their families.
 

 
If you've been wondering, you will be seeing jewelry and other art from me that was inspired by my visit to Ephesus.  I imagine pieces all the time and can't wait to get back to my studio this spring.  The paintings on the walls are just so beautiful and show how the Romans really knew how to live with art!  The fish is my favorite!
 

Note the clay pipe  - fresh running water!

 
"You cannot step twice into the same river; for other waters are continually flowing in.”  Heraclitus of Ephesus, Greek philosopher remembered for his cosmology, 540-480BC