It
is easily seen when entering the Ephesus
city from the south entrance. The construction
of the gymnasium dates around the second
century AD, funded by Publius Vedius Antoninus
and his wife Flavia Papiana. They dedicated
the gymnasium to Goddess Artemis and to
Emperor Antoninus Pius. In Ephesus, gymnasiums
were the schools for young people in which
one could take lessons for art, sports,
literature, drama and speech. The most
important and beautiful of these gymnasiums
was the Gymnasium of Vedius. The entrance
of the gymnasium is on the east, and when
entering there is a palaestra (courtyard),
surrounded by columns. The hall of emperors
is also on the east, with statues and
floors covered with mosaics.
The gymnasium included a bath, with a
tepidarium, a caldarium, and a frigidarium.
There was a pool at the frigidarium, with
the statue of the god of the River Kaistros
in the north end, pouring water into the
pool from the amphora that the god was
leaning on. Today, the statute is displayed
in Izmir Museum.
