What happened to the Library of Celsus?

Celsus is buried in a crypt beneath the library in a decorated marble sarcophagus. The interior of the library and its contents were destroyed in a fire that resulted either from an earthquake or a Gothic invasion in 262 C.E., and the façade by an earthquake in the tenth or eleventh century.

Why was the Library of Celsus important?

Commissioned in 114 CE by Tiberius Julius Acquila and finished by his heirs, the library was built to commemorate his father Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus who had died the same year, aged 70. The library was, therefore, also a mausoleum or heroon.

Who created the Library of Celsus?

architect Vitruoya
The library was designed by Roman architect Vitruoya, and is typical of the architectural style prevalent in the period 76-138 AD under Emperor Hadrian. It was built on a platform with nine steps spanning the full 21 m width of the building leading up to three front entrances.

How tall is the Library of Celsus?

10.90 to 16.70 meters
The Library of Celsus is probably the most distinctive building commonly associated with Ephesus. The library has a two-storey façade, and its interior is one large room with dimensions of 10.90 to 16.70 meters. This library room was located above the vaulted substructure.

Where was the Grand Library of Celsus located?

Between 12,000 and 15,000 scrolls were housed in the grand Library of Celsus in the Greco-Roman city of Ephesus. Designed by the Roman architect Vitruoya, the library was built in memory of Celsus Polemeanus, who was a Roman senator, General Governor of the Province of Asia, and a great lover of books.

When was the Celsus Library in Ephesus built?

The Library of Celsus was built in 114-117 AD and was commissioned by Tiberius Julius Aquilla in honor of his father, the former Roman proconsul of Ephesus, Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus (proconsul 105-107 AD). The library was near the agora in the center of the city.

When did Julius Aquila build the Library of Celsus?

Celsus’ son, Julius Aquila, began the construction in A.D. 110. The library was completed by Julius Aquila’s successors in 135. The body of Celsus was buried beneath the ground floor in a lead container inside a marble tomb.

How big was the Library of Celsus in Rome?

The library was “one of the most impressive buildings in the Roman Empire” and built to store 12,000 scrolls and to serve as a mausoleum for Celsus, who is buried in a crypt beneath the library in a decorated marble sarcophagus. The Library of Celsus was the “third-largest library in the ancient world” behind only Alexandria and Pergamum.