Die Basilika am Staatsmarkt in Ephesos

It is the preciding volume FiE IX/2/2 which completes the documentation and interpretation of the finds of the excavations of the Basilika am Staatsmarkt. The excavations were lead by W. Alzinger during the sixties and early seventies of the last century. Thus we obtained important results for Ephesian research, confirming that an earlier building - a Hellenistic stoa - in this area of the city took place about 200BC. Two different fills could be extracted: one under the stylobat of the Hellenistic stoa and another 1,2 m above stylobat brought up for the walking ground of the early Roman Basilika. The finds present a further mosaic tessera in the Ephesian history of the Classical and Hellenistic time. The area was the cemetery which was used till the Hellenistic Ephesos was founded. The moulds for ceramic vessels, lamps and terracottas as well as the loom weigths give evidence for private housing and workshops in this area before the stoa was constructed. According to the historical facts the main assemblage of amphora stamps belongs to the first half of 3rd century and is dominated by Rhodes. By the late 3rd century and continuing to the middle of the 2nd century the local regions presence becomes more clearly indicated. In the late 3rd century the private buildings in this area were demolished to build up the stoa; and in the end of the 1st century the stoa was pulled down bit by bit to give place for the Basilika. Some of the finds like glass, lamps and most of the coins give prove of ist existence till the 7th century.