Polio Fountain

 fountain, ancient, place with historical importance, 1st century construction

This is located to the east of Domitian Square, next to the western side of the Agora. With its wide and high arch which supports the triangular pediment and its small pool, it is quite an appealing structure. Water fell into the pool through the semi-circular apsidal wall on the side of the Agora. The Polyphemus group statue, which today is exhibited in the Ephesus Museum, was found in the pool on a pedestal built to fit the apsidal wall. These statues were originally on the pediment of the Temple of Isis in the middle of the Agora, but after the collapse of that structure, they were brought here. The theme of the group statue is one of the adventures of Odysseus in the Aegean following the Trojan wars, specifically, his adventure with Polyphemus, son of Posseidon. According to an inscription, the fountain was constructed by Sextilius Pollia in 97 A.D.