When the apostle John lived in Ephesus, the city had two main areas of activity. One was a government center on the hill to the east. The other was a busy marketplace near the harbor, where people came to buy, sell, and trade.
A Large and Busy Market
The commercial marketplace, also called the agora, was a large square area—about 360 feet (110 meters) on each side. It was surrounded by many shops and covered walkways called stoas, which had two rows of columns. The marketplace was improved and renovated by Roman emperors Augustus and Nero. Some of the original shops, especially on the south side, are still standing today Ephesus A Great Ancient City.
On the east side of the market is a raised walkway with Doric-style columns built during Nero’s time. It is about 5.5 feet (1.6 meters) high and has steps at both ends. From here, visitors had a great view of the road to the east and the market to the west.
Ongoing Archaeological Work
Archaeologists are still working in this lower marketplace. They are restoring an eastern gate and uncovering old shops along the south side where local business owners once worked. People like Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila—mentioned in the Bible (Acts 18:2–3)—were leather-workers who likely used shops like these in different cities. John himself may have worked here as well Istanbul Tours Guide.
The Mazaeus and Mithridates Gate
One of the gates in the southeast corner of the market is called the Mazaeus and Mithridates Gate. Inscriptions in both Greek and Latin say that it was built around 4 or 3 B.C. by two men named Mazaeus and Mithridates. This gate is also close to another important location in Ephesus.
The Lecture Hall of Tyrannus
Next to the Mazaeus and Mithridates Gate, archaeologists believe they’ve found the place where a lecture hall once stood. A stone inscription from the first century A.D. mentions a hall in this area.
This is especially interesting because the Bible says that Paul taught every day in Ephesus in the “lecture hall of Tyrannus” (Acts 19:9). This may be that very place. Not much of the building has been found yet, but a round platform from earlier times—likely part of an older structure—was discovered underneath where the hall was later built.
