Commercial Agora Overview

View looking north down at the Commercial Agora (lower left).  The large theater is in the upper right of the image and the "marble street" leads from the bottom of the photo to it.  the Library of Celsus is the columned structure in the lower left of the image.

It was probably in the Commercial Agora that Demetrius and other silversmiths produced and sold their silver shrines of Artemis.  These were the men who caused a riot over their loss of trade as Paul’s preaching of Christ became more successful (Acts 19:23-28).

Paul may have even had a tent (leather/canvas) shop in this agora during his three-year stay in Ephesus – on his third journey.  Indeed, he may have even “witnessed” to those who came to this agora.

The outline of the Commercial Market (=Agora in Greek) goes back to the time of the Roman Emperor Augustus (27 B.C.–A.D. 14).  It is a square 500 ft. (154 m.) on a side.  It had gates on the north, west, and south sides.

For another view of the Commercial Agora Click Here.

For a Map and a brief description of Ephesus Click Here.