Ephesus - Gymnasium of Vedius Stadium

On the slope of the hill to the left of Ephesus is the Gymnasium of Vedius (A.D. second century), the remains of a large rectangular building with an arcaded courtyard, the palaestra (hall for wrestling). The eastern half of the structure, built of brick faced with marble, is better preserved and shows interesting details of the internal arrangement.

Some 100m/110yds south of the Gymnasium of Vedius is the Stadium, which dates from the time of Nero (A.D. 54-68). On the south side the tiers of seating for spectators were hewn out of the hillside; the stone benches are missing. At the semicircular east end was an arena which could be shut off from the main part of the stadium and used, in the absence of a circus, for gladiatorial contests and fights between wild beasts. Between the Gynmasium of Vedius and the Stadium a marble-paved way ran east to the Koressos Gate, of which some remains survive.

200m/220yds along a modern road which runs south from the Gymnasium of Vedius, on the left, are the remains of a Byzantine building. Notable features are the large room with semicircular niches on the south side and the 50m/165ft-long apsed hall on the west side.