The Library of Celsus, Ephesus, Turkey

The Library of Celsus in Ephesus, Turkey, is one of the most splendid monuments of the Roman Empire, serving both as a library and a mausoleum. Built between AD 110 and 135, the library was dedicated to Gaius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus, a Roman Senator, Consul, and Governor of the province of Asia, by his son Gaius Julius Aquila. Celsus was buried in a sarcophagus beneath the library, a rare honor that highlighted his importance and the esteem in which he was held.