TURKEY
CELSUS LIBRARY
The Library of Celsus was built or Tiberius Julius Celsus
Polemaeanus and completed in AD135 in Ephsus, Asia Minor (Anatolia, now Turkey).
Celsus’s son, Gaius Julius Aquila built the library in honour of his father who
was consul in AD 92, former governor of Asia in AD 115 and a wealthy and
popular local citizen.
The library was built to store 12000 scrolls and to serve as a monumental tom for Celsus. It was unusual to be buried within a library or even within city limits, so this was a special honor for Celsius
The library was built to store 12000 scrolls and to serve as a monumental tom for Celsus. It was unusual to be buried within a library or even within city limits, so this was a special honor for Celsius
It is today one of the few remaining examples of an ancient
Roman-style library. It also shows how public libraries were not only built in
Rome itself, but also all throughout the empire.
After a massive restoration project, painstakingly carried out based on the original structure, the front façade of the building was rebuilt ad now serves as a prime example of Roman architecture on public buildings.
After a massive restoration project, painstakingly carried out based on the original structure, the front façade of the building was rebuilt ad now serves as a prime example of Roman architecture on public buildings.
The building itself is a single hall that faces eastward
toward the sun in the morning so as to benefit those who are early risers, as
Vitruvius advised. The library is built on a platform with 9 steps the ull
width of the building leading up to 3 front entrances.
The center entrance is larger than the 2 surrounding entrances and all are adorned with windows above them. Along the entrances are 4 pairs of Corinthian order columns raised by pedestals. Another order of columns stands directly above the first set, adding to the height of the building.
The center entrance is larger than the 2 surrounding entrances and all are adorned with windows above them. Along the entrances are 4 pairs of Corinthian order columns raised by pedestals. Another order of columns stands directly above the first set, adding to the height of the building.
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