Mazaeus and Mithridates were two freed slaves who became rich and gave Ephesus a triple-arched gate in the time of Augustus. Mithridates was freed by Marcus Agrippa, and Mazaeus was probably freed by Augustus himself. We know them from the Latin and Greek inscriptions on their gate, which stands beside the Library of Celsus.
My guests often ask me who these two men were, and how a former slave could pay for a gate like this. Let’s have a look at what we really know. It is not much, but it is a good story, and I tell it on every walk. They are two of the benefactors of Ephesus.
Who Were Mazaeus and Mithridates?
They were freedmen, which means slaves who had been set free by their masters. A freed man usually kept a bond with his old master and often worked for him, but he was free person now. Mithridates is known as a freedman of Agrippa, the friend and helper of Augustus. Mazaeus was probably freed by Augustus.
We do not know how they earned their money, and I will not guess any sums. Many freedmen of important men worked as agents and traders, so it was possible to become rich. For the wider picture, see my post on slavery in Anatolia during antiquity.
What Did They Pay For?
They paid for gate with three arches at the south side of the Commercial Agora, the big market square of Ephesus. It was built in the time of Augustus, around the turn of the era.
The building details are in my post on the gate of Mazaeus and Mithridates, so here I keep to the two men.
What Does the Inscription Say?
The gate is a thank-you note in stone. The inscriptions honor Augustus and his wife Livia, and Augustus’s daughter Julia and Agrippa, and they name Mazaeus and Mithridates as the givers. The texts are in Latin and in Greek, so every visitor of the city could read them.
I like to stop my guests under the middle arch and ask them to look up to the letters. By the way, the letters were made of bronze, and only the holes where they were fixed are left. Think of it: two men who began life as slaves put their names in the entrance of the biggest market of the city, next to the emperor.
Where Do You See the Gate Today?
The gate stands beside the Library of Celsus, where the street from the Upper Gate ends. It was set up again in the 1980s, almost only from its own ancient blocks, which had been laying in the square since the first excavations. The same work had raised the facade of the library before it, so the two neighbors stand side by side as in Roman times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did two freed slaves build a gate in Ephesus?
It was a way to thank their former masters and to show their place in the city. The inscriptions honor Augustus and his family, and the gate also carried the names of the two donors.
Is the gate of Mazaeus and Mithridates original?
Almost. It was put up again in the 1980s, almost only from its own ancient marble blocks. The missing parts are few.
Where is the gate of Mazaeus and Mithridates?
It is at the south side of the Commercial Agora, right beside the Library of Celsus, at the end of the walk down from the Upper Gate.
Hire Ephesus Tour Guide
I am a nationally licensed Turkish tour guide based in Kuşadası, nearby Ephesus. My day guiding is in Ephesus, İzmir and Pamukkale, and on a longer journey my national license lets me join you as your personal guide in other regions.
You can see my guiding rates and guiding areas, or write to me through my contact page to ask about my availability.
I hope we will stand under the arches of this gate together one day. See you soon, Hasan Gülday.
