Since these houses are located in the town center they were
 obviously occupied by important people. The area is therefore
 called the "Rich Houses" or "Hillside Palace". Every terrace on
 the stepped street was a home entrance. All were peristyle (with
 a small pool in the center) and the rooms were 
 arranged around the pool. Most houses were
 three-story not higher than 20 or 25 m. Columns were
 on all sides and the floors were marble. There was
 running water to the houses, either from a fountain or along the
 side. In some houses there were even cisterns and wells. Light
 came in from the open peristyle, but not enough to keep the
 houses from being dim, since there were no windows. The houses
 were lighted like the baths were. The floors were mosaic, the
 walls had frescoes or colored marble. The precious finds from the houses are on display in the Ephesus Museum.

The houses were built up the first century AD and were used as late as Heraclius' time (611-641) doubtless with multiple restorations.