Die Chronologie der Kuretenstraße

Located in the saddle between the two Ephesian mountains is the so-called Curetes Street, which, even today, is the main axis cutting at an angle across the ancient city. The ancient name for Curetes Street, as derived from inscriptions, appears to have been »Embolos« (»wedge, ram«). Although it has been the focus of research from the start of the 20th century, significant aspects of the development of this critical district of the town have yet to be considered. Based on the archaeological analysis of finds and findings, the author has reconstructed the structure of the lower Embolos from the 3rd century BC and refined the dating and architectural history of the individual monuments, fountains and taverns along the south side. The ›Heroon‹ and the ›Octagon‹, for which the dating has long been considered controversial, can now be chronologically assigned with certainty. In addition new findings about the design of the Embolos in the Late Antique-Early Byzantine era are being given. A boom in building from the mid-5th to the mid-6th century corresponds with a generally observable demonstration of the renewed prosperity of the city of Ephesos, in which the transformation of existing, partially destroyed buildings in the lower Embolos into monumental fountains and and the building of the so-called Curetes Hall are worthy of particular mention.