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In the beginning, in 1929, artifacts from
diggings and the surrounding were brought here and stored. In 1964, what is
now the museum's southern section was built and artifacts were displayed
there. The room was not big enough for the increasing number of artifacts so,
in 1995 another section was added and used for exhibition. The Selcuk-Ephesus
Museum is the most important and richest museum for possession and sole
display of local artifacts. The Ephesus Museum is a rich and important
museum for Ephesian and Anatolian archeology with artifacts from digs at
Ephesus, St. John' Church, the Belevi Mausoleum, and other local ruins.
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Including artifacts from the Mycenian, Archaic, and Turkish periods as well,
the majority are from the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine periods.
Terrace Houses Room: In the
first room of the museum are finds, mainly from the Roman Period, that have
come to light over the last fifty years from excavations in the
"Hillside Houses". On the left are the plan of the houses and
photos of the excavation. In the first showcase are medical and cosmetic
artifacts. The second case displays home religious cultic items. The most
interesting of these is a glass tray. In the niche opposite is a fresco from
one of the houses with a statue of Artemis the huntress and a bust and fresco
of Socrates. On the left side of the room are a bust of Emperor Marcus
Aurelius and statuettes of the gods Priapos and Bes. Three of the museum's
most important possessions are in the central room. These are an Eros with
dolphin from the 2nd century, a statue of an Egyptian priest, and a copy of a
Roman statue of Eros by Lysippus.
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Fountain Artifacts:
In this room are finds from the Pollio, Trajan, and Laecanus fountains at Ephesus.
To the immediate left of the door is a bust of Zeus and a statue of
Aphrodite. In the center of the room is statue of a "Resting
Warrior". To the left is the statue group of
"Odysseus-Polyphemos" which decorated the Pollio fountian. The
first figure is Dionysius reclining on a tree trunk. The other statues are a
reclining satyr, an Aphrodite with oyster shell and Anrocles with dog. On the
right of the room is a series of busts. These belonged to the statues at the
Laecanus Bassus Fountain. |
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Recent Findings Room: Some
recent finds have been on exhibit here for a year or two. In the display case
to the immediate right of the door are Byzantine finds from the Christian
era. On the left side of the room are coins and jewelry. Pre-Roman coins from
Ephesus have the city symbol, a bee, on one side and the deer of Artemis on
the other.
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or his lieutenants, or some imperial symbol. On the left wall hang theater
masks made of leather or wood and were found at the Grand Theater in Ephesus.
Such masks made of stone were used for decoration. On the same wall is a lamp
stand from Ephesus. Other important artifacts in the room include a masked
Eros, amphoras, figure of Eros, a statue of Aphrodite, and various busts,
including one of Menander, the playwright. The only thing that remains
permanently in the room is an ivory frieze from the "hillside
houses". The frieze shows Trajan fighting eastern barbarians and three
sections from his preparation to fight. |
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The Garden : The
museum has a garden that fits in with the local architecture. On the right of
the garden are sarcophagi, gravestones, sacrificial altars and inscriptions.
The sarcophagus from the 2nd century is decorated with quite interesting
ornamentation. The figures on it resemble figures of Moses. Judging by the
inscription on its lid it was used again in the Byzantine period. Along the
west wall of the garden there are grave and offering stones on display. The
sundial in the center is in a half-moon shape.
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Grave Artifacts Room:
This room opening from the garden displays finds from the gravesites. On the
left wall are drawings of Anatolian burial customs. On the left are small
artifacts taken from a Mycenian grave in front of St. John's Church dating
from the 14th or 13th centuries BC, proving that the history of Ephesus dated
from before Androcles. In another display case are small glass artifacts
taken from graves in and around Ephesus. At the end of the room are numerous
stele taken from sarcophagi in the area.
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Artemis Room:
This is where statues of Artemis and things related to the goddess are on
display. There are two statues on display showing their former glory. These
were found by accident in the prythaneionda and dated from the 1st century
AD. The statue on the left is known as "Great Artemis" and the
other one is "Beautiful Artemis." In the display cases are
artifacts from the temple to Artemis. There is a horse from one of the temple
chariots on display, too.
Imperial Cult and
Portrait Salon: In this room
there are generally imperial family busts. The most noteworthy feature is the
crowns that were engraved into the foreheads of the busts. The statue to the
right of the door leading from the Artemis Room was of the consul Stephanos.
On the left, on either side of the picture of the Temple to Hadrian are
original friezes from that temple. The altar in the center was a piece of the
U-shaped altar of the temple to Domitian. There are friezes on three sides of
it. Just before leaving the room there are pieces from the giant statue to
Domitian. There are also pieces from statues of August and his wife, Livia in
the room.
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Ephesus
& Museum Tour
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Ephesus