Terrace Houses (Hanghäuser) of Ephesus
Wealthy homes of the city where Paul taught for two years
Found 1960 — Austrian Archaeological Institute (ÖAI): Hermann Vetters directed the Terrace House excavations from 1960 into the 1980s; conservation and study continue under the ÖAI (roofed 2000)
Where Ephesus (Efes), near Selçuk (Turkey)
Dates from Built c. 25–50 CE; destroyed by earthquake c. 270–280 CE · Roman Imperial · Paul at Ephesus (Acts 19); message to Ephesus (Revelation 2)
Now at In situ under a protective roof; portable finds in the Ephesus Museum, Selçuk, and the Ephesos Museum, Vienna
How Terrace Houses (Hanghäuser) of Ephesus was found
Excavating up the slope of Bülbüldağ south of Curetes Street, the Austrians found two insulae of multi-storey houses whose earthquake collapse had sealed painted walls, mosaics and household goods in place.
What it is
Terrace House 2 holds seven peristyle homes on three terraces, about 4,000 square metres in all, with marble-lined rooms, heated baths, running water, more than 75 rooms of wall painting, some 100 mosaics, and hundreds of scratched graffiti — shopping lists, love notes, riddles and prayers.
Why it matters for the Bible
These are the homes of the class Luke describes at Ephesus — Asiarchs, silversmiths, city officials — standing exactly when Paul spent two years teaching there (Acts 19:10). They show the kind of house in which an 'assembly in the house' met (1 Corinthians 16:19 was written from Ephesus), and their graffiti give the ordinary Greek of the first readers of Ephesians and Revelation 2.
The Hebrew word: BAH-yeet
בַּיִת
בַּיִת is pronounced BAH-yeet and means house, household — the setting of the earliest assemblies (Strong's H1004).
People this discovery connects to
- Paul — שָׁאוּל (shah-OOL) — 'asked for'; Latin Paulus
- Aquila and Priscilla — עֲקִילַס וּפְּרִיסְקִלָּה (ah-kee-LAHS oo-prees-KEE-lah) — Latin names; hosts of a house-assembly at Ephesus
Places
- Ephesus — אֶפֶסוֹס (EH-feh-sos) — Greek Ephesos
Events
Paul's ministry at Ephesus · House-assemblies of Asia
Terrace Houses (Hanghäuser) of Ephesus in Scripture
Acts 18:19 First mention of Ephesus in Scripture.
Acts 19:10 Two years of teaching at Ephesus, while these houses were newly built and lived in.
1 Corinthians 16:19 Written from Ephesus: 'Aquila and Priscilla, with the assembly in their house' — houses like these.
Questions people ask
What is Terrace Houses (Hanghäuser) of Ephesus?
Terrace House 2 holds seven peristyle homes on three terraces, about 4,000 square metres in all, with marble-lined rooms, heated baths, running water, more than 75 rooms of wall painting, some 100 mosaics, and hundreds of scratched graffiti — shopping lists, love notes, riddles and prayers.
When was Terrace Houses (Hanghäuser) of Ephesus discovered?
It was found in 1960 by Austrian Archaeological Institute (ÖAI): Hermann Vetters directed the Terrace House excavations from 1960 into the 1980s; conservation and study continue under the ÖAI (roofed 2000), at Ephesus (Efes), near Selçuk.
Where is Terrace Houses (Hanghäuser) of Ephesus today?
In situ under a protective roof; portable finds in the Ephesus Museum, Selçuk, and the Ephesos Museum, Vienna.
Which Bible verses does Terrace Houses (Hanghäuser) of Ephesus relate to?
Acts 18:19, Acts 19:10, 1 Corinthians 16:19.
Related discoveries
- אַרְטֶמִיסTemple of Artemis at EphesusOne of the Seven Wonders, whose silver shrines sparked the riot against Paul
- תֵּאַטְרוֹןGreat Theater of EphesusThe 24,000-seat theater where the silversmiths' riot shouted 'Great is Artemis'
- קְהִלָּהCuretes Street and the Library of Celsus, EphesusThe marble city Paul walked — with a landmark built a generation after him
- שָׁאוּלGrotto of St Paul and the Thecla Fresco, EphesusA hillside cave with the oldest painted image of Paul found in Asia
- מִרְיָםChurch of Mary (Council Church), EphesusThe great basilica where the Council of 431 met, built inside a Roman hall
- דֶּרֶךְVia Egnatia and the Port of NeapolisThe Roman highway and harbour that carried the Good News into Europe
Sources
- Terrace House 2 at Ephesus (Peter Sommer Travels)
- Hanghaus 2 in Ephesos, Die Wohneinheit 7 (ÖAW, open access)
- Ephesos Excavations, Austrian Academy of Sciences
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