The peristyle courtyard in Ephesus

The peristyle courtyard in Ephesus

The Ephesus Townhouses, also known as the "Rich Man's Houses" are located on Bulbul Hill, opposite the Temple of Hadrian. They are a luxurious Roman villa located on the hill opposite the Temple of Hadrian They are of great importance in providing insight into family life in Roman times Ephesus on the Ionian coast now Selçuk in the Turkish province of Izmir was built in the 10th century BC on the site of Apasa the former capital of Arsavan Today the ruins of Ephesus are a popular tourist destination both internationally and locally They were famous at the time for the Temple of Artemis completed around 550 BC The townhouses were built according to the Hippodamian plan with streets intersecting at right angles. 

There were six houses on three terraces at the lower end of Bulbul Hill The oldest building built in the 1st century BC dates back to the 1st century BC and remained in use as accommodation until the 7th century allowing us to study the development of family life in Roman times The houses in Ephesus have Roman roofs floor mosaics and frescoes that have been reinforced And two houses are open to the public as museums The peristyle courtyard in Ephesus especially in row houses is a typical architectural style of Roman houses The courtyard is an open space in the center of the house often surrounded by a garden and surrounded by colonnaded walkways These courtyards provide natural light.A peristyle courtyard is an inner courtyard surrounded by a peristyle walkway which is a series of columns It often has an interior garden or walkway

They have a central courtyard peristyle with an open ceiling Most are two stories The upper floors of the buildings have deteriorated over time The lower floors have living and dining rooms that open onto a hallway The upper floors have bedrooms and guest rooms. Each house has a mosaic floor and walls decorated with murals The heating system of the row houses is the same as that used in the bathrooms Clay pipes under the floors and behind the walls carry hot air through the house. Each house has hot and cold water The rooms have no windows and only light from the open entrance hall shines in making most rooms look dim. Excavation of the row houses began in the 1960s The restoration of both houses is complete and can be visited today and is open as a museum