Further down the hill comes the main street of Ephesus – and one of its most evocative features - known as Kuretes Street it connects the Magnesia Gate to the Koressos Gate – a distance of 210 metres. This path had religious significance hence its name Kuretes meaning priest. There is a 20 metre fall between the highest and lowest point and is paved in marble for the most part with a deep drainage channel below its surface.
Side streets join this main street at right angles to conform to the grid pattern of the city. On one side of the street – to the right as you look at the photo – were fountains, temples and baths and statues of prominent people were placed on pedestals on either side of the street. To the left were sidewalks of mosaic with shops, restaurants and spice stalls behind which stood, on the lower slopes, small terrace houses whilst higher up stood the magnificent villas of the wealthy.
Walking down this street this morning you could almost visualise people going about their daily lives 2000 years ago – a bit different from the supermarket on Saturday morning!
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