Temple of Hadrian
Hadrian Temple is one of the best preserved and most beautiful structures on Curetes Street. It was built before 138 AD by Quintilius dedicated to the Emperor Hadrian, who came to visit the city from Athens in 128 A.D. The name "Temple of Hadrian" is not really accurate: it is more a monument than a temple, and was dedicated not only to Hadrian but also Artemis and the people of Ephesus.

The facade of the temple has four Corinthian columns supporting a curved arch, in the middle of the arch there is a relief of Tyche, goddess of victory. The side columns are square. The pedestal with inscriptions is the bases for the statues of the emperors between 293-305 CE, Diocletian, Maximian, Constantius I, and Galerius; the originals of the statues have not been found yet.

The interior of the monument is decorated with panels of reliefs along the top. The ones in place today are plaster replicas of originals protected in the Ephesus Museum.

The first three panels from the depict the mythological foundation of Ephesus, and show representations of Androklos chasing a boar (part of the founding myth of Ephesus), the battle between Hercules and Theseus, and gods with Amazons. Most of these were taken from a 3rd-century building and placed here in the 4th-century reconstruction.
The fourth panel was created new at the time of the 4th century reconstruction, and is very interesting for the religious history of Ephesus. It shows Emperor Theodosius and his family surrounded by Athena, Apollo, Androklos, Heracles, Artemis of Ephesus, and several other historical and mythological figures.

Inside the temple above the door you can see a human figure, probably Medusa stands with ornaments of acanthus leaves. On both sides there are friezes depicting the story of the foundation of Ephesus - Androklos shooting a boar, Dionysus in ceremonial procession and the Amazons. The fourth frieze shows two male figures, one of which is Apollo; Athena, goddess of the moon; a female figure, Androkles, Herakles, the wife and son of Theodosius and the goddess Athena. These friezes are copies, and the originals are displayed in Ephesus Museum.

Emperor Hadrian was one of the Five of Good Emperors. The Five Good Emperors is a term referring to five consecutive emperors of the Roman Empire Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius. Publius Aelius Hadrianus was born on 24 January AD 76, probably at Rome, though his family comes from Baetica. Hadrian was educated in various subjects especially he was fond of Greek literature thus he was nicknamed Graeculus ("Little Greek"). Hadrian was active in the wars against the Dacians and reputedly won awards from Trajan for his successes.

Hadrian appeared to have been a man of mixed sexual interests. The Historia Augusta criticizes both his liking of young men as well as his relationships with married women. It is also believed that he tried to poison his wife. When it comes to Hadrian's homosexuality, most of the attention is given to the young Antinous, whom Hadrian was very fond of. Statues of Antinous have survived, showing that imperial patronage of this youth extended to having sculptures made of him. In AD 130 Antinous accompanied Hadrian to Egypt. It was during the trip on the Nile when Antinous met with an early and mysterious death. Officially, he fell from the boat and drowned.

Hadrian died in 138 on the tenth day of July at age 62. However, the man who had travelled so much during his life had not yet reached his journey's end. He was buried first at Puteoli, near Baiae, on an estate which had once belonged to Cicero. Soon after, his remains were transferred to Rome and buried in the Gardens of Domitia, close by the almost-complete mausoleum. Upon the completion of the Tomb of Hadrian in Rome in 139 by his successor Antoninus Pius, his body was cremated, and his ashes were placed there together with those of his wife Vibia Sabina and his first adopted son, Lucius Aelius, who also died in 138.

According to the records of Historia Augusta Hadrian wrote shortly before his death the following poem:

Animula, vagula, blandula
Hospes comesque corporis
Quae nunc abibis in loca
Pallidula, rigida, nudula,
Nec, ut soles, dabis iocos...
P. Aelius Hadrianus Imp.
Little soul, roamer and charmer
Body's guest and companion
Who soon will depart to places
Darkish, chilly and misty
An end to all your jokes...

They intended to have good relationships with emperors and flatter. There was an altar serving the worship of Artemis and Augustus.