Ephesus Celsus Library
Ephesus Celsus Library. The Library of Celsus is perhaps the most iconic structure in Ephesus. Built in the 2nd century AD, it was a monumental library and mausoleum dedicated to Gaius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus, a prominent Roman senator. The library featured a striking façade with two tiers of columns and statues representing wisdom and virtue. It housed thousands of scrolls and served as a center of learning and scholarship in the ancient world.