The Great Theater of Ephesus is located on the slopes of Panair (Pion) hill opposite Harbor Street and can be seen as soon as you enter from the south entrance of Ephesus. The theater is cut into the western slope of Mount Pion, where the Acropolis was located. Hellenistic theaters were commonly built on the natural slopes of hills to take advantage of them. A prime example is Pergamum's Acropolis Theater, built in the 3rd century BC. It was built at about the same time as the Ephesus Theater. Excavations of the Great Theater indicate that it was first built around 250 BC. It was built during the reign of Lysimachus. It was extended in Roman times and given its current style. Ephesus, like other ancient Hellenistic cities, was laid out in a grid. According to this layout, important public buildings are placed along the boulevard. His one of Ephesus' main streets, Arcadian Street, runs between the harbor and the Great Theatre.
