The Arcadian Way, which was the main Harbour Street of the old Ephesus , runs from the Great Theatre of Ephesus to the harbour, a distance of nearly 500 yards. The middle part of the street is paved with large marble slabs to a width of 36 feet. Underneath this pavement there is a canal leading to the harbour. At a distance of 15 feet from the middle-pavement, there were galleries on both sides. Behind these were small shops selling all kind of merchandise. An inscription tells us that it was called " Arcadiana", The Arcadian Avenue of Ephesus, after being restored during the reign of the Emperor Arcadius (390-408 A.D.).

 

There were impressive gates at both ends of the Arcadian Way. The eastern gate, the one closer to the Great Theatre, was so badly destroyed that its restoration was impossible. The western gate , that is the one on the harbour and of the Arcadian Way, had lonic capitals. Both of these gates were erected during the early years of the Imperial period.

 

There are four pillar bases which probably carried the statues of the four apostles who wrote the New Testament. These date from the sixth century . The Arcadian Avenue was unearthed, and is partly restored today.