The Museum of Ephesus is in the district of Selçuk. Artifacts found in the excavations in Ephesus are displayed in a contemporary style in the halls of the museum according to the places where they were discovered. The first hall contains the findings relating to houses. Here are displayed artifacts found in the excavations carried out in the houses in Ephesus for nearly thirty years. Although the duration of the excavations was long the number of houses excavated was small. These were the houses standing on the slopes facing the Curetés Street.
Hall of hillside houses
The houses on the east were first excavated and the materials like frescoes and mosaics found there were taken from their places and brought to the museum. Later it was understood that this system was not right and from then on the houses were put under protection as they were.
Portable small objects found both in the earlier and later excavations are displayed in this hall of the museum called the Hall of House Objects. Copies of a part of the artifacts were put in their original places. In the first showcase on the right small bronze artifacts found in the houses are on display. The first artifact is a cruet known by the name of Oinoche which actually was a wine holder. From the figures at both ends of its handles the cruet was dated back to the 5th century BC. next to this are displayed a sitting Zeus of small dimensions, an Isis and small artifacts used for daily needs. These artifacts were for the most part made in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd centuries BC, the brightest period of Ephesus.
The headless marble statue standing next to this showcase is the god of healing, Asclepius. A snake curving around a stick which was his symbol was broken. The statues of the Emperor Tiberius and his mother Livia standing in the next wall showcase are among the rare artifacts found intact and in good condition in Ephesus. As both these statues are part of the exhibition sent around the world into different countries with a view to making Anatolian civilization known, they are at present not displayed here. The bronze statue of a snake standing between the two reflects the tradition of keeping pet snakes in houses. In the Ancient period, this species of snakes which were not poisonous were regarded as the protectors of the house and the destruction of them was strongly opposed. In fact pet snakes were useful animals in that they ate the small and harmful animals like mice in the house.
After these, the artifacts displayed in showcases near the middle of the hall are a part of those used for daily needs. The glass bracelets in this showcase were for children. As glass ivory objects and marble busts and portraits. The most important artifact in the second showcase is a yellow marble head of Ganymede, the wine giver for the god Zeus. Among the objects in the same row the bust is one of the rare busts of Menander, the comedy writer. The head next to it belongs to Socrates. It was found with the nose and a part of the face broken and missing and was cheap the bracelets were made for children, whereas for adults valuable metals were preferred. Other artifacts in the showcase are small later restored in conformity with the type of the Satyr Silenus which Plato mentioned in his dialogues. One of the beautiful artifacts found in the houses on the slopes of Ephesus is the Eros with a rabbit. This small size artifact represents a boy of the type of Eros trying to prevent his dog from getting at the rabbit he holds by the legs. Only a small part of the rabbit and nothing but the feet of the dog have remained.
The frescoes in the corner are of the artifacts found in the early excavations in Ephesus and transported here as they were. The statue in the niche is Artemis as huntress, and the fresco on the right, as understood from its inscription, is Socrates, represented draped in a peplos and sitting on a couch. Of the two artifacts displayed in the showcases standing in the middle of the hall one is a marble head of Eros. The original of this work was the bronze statue of him holding a bow in his hand made in 330-320 BC by the famous sculptor Lysippus. The marble head of Eros we see is a copy made in the 2nd century AD.
The other object is a statue of an Egyptian priest with an inscription in hieroglyphics on its back made in the 6th century BC. Commercial relations between Egypt and Anatolia went on for years intensively. The statue of the Egyptian priest came to Ephesus
In the showcases on the left side of the hall small objects are displayed. Among these the dark blue plate is from iznik. Furthermore, the statue of Artemis the huntress holding her bow stretched is among the beautiful statues of the museum. Following the fashion of the day this piece was executed in an archaic style.
The Hall of the Fountains
The second hall of the museum is the Hall of the Fountains in which the artifacts found in the monumental fountains (Nympheum) in Ephesus are displayed. The first piece on the left is a head of Zeus dated back to the 1st century BC. The torso of aphrodite next to it, although lacking most parts, is one of the best proportioned Aphrodites in the museums of the world. The pieces displayed in the semicircular niche at the left corner are related to the statues of the Polyphemus Group as also mentioned in the chapter on the State Agora in this book. Odysseus, the hero of the epic the Odyssey by the famous author Homer, lived through a series of adventures lasting for many years on his way home after the Trojan war. One of these took place on the island on which Polyphemus, a notorious Cyclops, lived. When Odysseus and his companions from the ship came to Polyphemus' island, he caught them all and imprisoned them in a cave and he devoured several of the sailors. Then Odysseus offered the wine he had found to the Cyclops.
The companions of Odysseus, using a plank the end of which was sharpened into a point, blinded the eye of the Cyclops who had become drunk after drinking the wine. Thus they escaped from the cave. The group of statues is displayed in succession. These pieces which formerly decorated the pediment of the Temple of Isis located in the middle of the State Agora of Ephesus were taken from there when the temple was destroyed later and placed on the edge of the pool of the fountain of Pollio on the east side of Domitian Square. The original position of the statues at the pediment of the temple are to be seen in the garden of the museum.
On the wall facing the statues of the Polyphemus Group are displayed the statues of the fountain built for the Emperor Trajan. The naked man with the bowed head is Dionysus, the god of wine. Next to it in a half-lying position is a satyr. The statues following these belong to the imperial family. The original places of the statues were drawn on the panel on the wall. The statue standing next to the panel is Androclus, the legendary founder of Ephesus. Next to it the statue with the shell at its waist, as seen also from its style, is Aphrodite. At the left hand corner of the hall are displayed portraits and idealized heads, and at the right hand side pieces of sculpture from the Fountain of Q. Laecanius Bassus situated to the east of the Temple of Domitian. This fountain is not restored yet. The most beautiful pieces of the fountain are two statues of nymphs resembling naked Aphrodites. These were modeled as if dressed in wet clothes. The dedicatory inscription of the fountain is also in this hall.
The Hall Of Recent Discoveries
From the Mall of the Fountains one passes to the Hall of Recent Discoveries. In the room at the west end of this hall are displayed the coins found in Ephesus. These are displayed in chronological order and the ones with bees on them are Ephesian coins. Enlargements of two of these are hung on the wall and the minting of an Ephesian coin is described on the panel nearby. On the wall to the left of the door are shown tragic masks found in the Theatre. Where the masks were displayed in the theatre is shown on the panel. In the Roman theatre the players were all men and they used masks when necessary. Therefore the players are shown with masks in their hands in the drawing.
After the masks there is a display of Ephesian lamps. All through ancient times the Ephesians had exported lamps to all the Mediterranean countries so that the Ephesian lamp was well known. The manufacture of a lamp is shown in the display.
The bust standing in the niche of the narrow wall on the street side is of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. The bust of the emperor was found in recent exavations put away to keep it from harm during the reparation of a house. Therefore it was very well preserved. There are many copies of the bust in the museums around the world. The ivory frieze on display in the long showcase in the same row is unique among museums. This frieze was found burned and broken in the houses on the slopes and was restored by years of labour. Its subject is related to the wars the Emperor Trajan fought against the Parthians. The bearded men are the Parthians and the others are the Romans. The figure standing out in front is the Emperor Trajan. The artifact displayed in the little showcase on the other side of the hall is a reliquary in the form of a small tomb.
It was found in an excavation at the west end of the harbour of Ephesus and was dated back to the 9th century AD. In the showcase next to this are exhibited wine holders and the hardened wine found in Ephesus in a vessel.The wine holders were dated back from the 6th century BC to the end of the Hellenistic period.
The marble font for baptismal service standing in the middle was dated back to the 11th century. The Eros with a dolphin standing next to this was used as a tap for the pool of a house. The Eros holding a mask in his hand near it was found at the edge of the pool of another house.
In the last showcase in this row it is shown how the decorations of flower bouquets on a wine holder termed a Skyphos were made by reproducing by means of moulds. The positive mould is original and a rare artifact.
The Garden
On the right, the artifact in the shape of a rather big triangular plate is a fragment of an ambo. It was found in the excavations of the Church of St. John. On it there is a scene showing the Prophet Abraham sacrificing his son Ishmael. Abraham has a knife in his hand and Ishmael has a band over his eyes. The hand of God reaches out from the corner to stop the sacrifice.
The statues of Eros on a dolphin of the pool in the middle are original pieces and were used for the same purpose in unidentified pools in Ephesus. Both works were dated back to the 1st century AD frorn their workmanship. On the south side of the garden examples of hundreds of capitals found in Ephesus are displayed in chronological order. The first capitals are in the Ionic order and were dated back to the 6th century BC. They were found in the excavations of the Temple of Artemis. The one with the bulls head belongs to the Basilica adjacent to the State Agora.
On the pediment above the area where the capitals are exhibited there is a representation of the statues of the Polyphemus Group as they stood in their original place, the pediment of the Temple of Isis. The darker statues are the ones displayed in the Mall of Fountains of the museum and the white ones are the fragments that could not be found in the excavations. Stelae of offering and tombs standing at the west wall of the garden date from the Hellenistic to the end of the Roman period. Of the figures on the stelae those shown lying or naked represent the deceased, the ones near them the relatives, and the smaller ones the slaves. The intact sarcophagus in front of these is known as the Sarcophagus with the Muses because of the reliefs of Muses around it. It was found accidentally in the necropolis outside the walls of Ephesus.
Excavations in the necropolis are not yet begun in Ephesus. The sarcophagus was used twice as understood from its inscription. The lion headed griffins exhibited in the middle are a part of the decorations of the Monumental Tomb of Belevi. In the village of Belevi which can be reached by a road forking out after 15 kilometres from Ephesus on the way to Izmir, there is a tumulus and a monumental tomb with a pyramidal roof like the mausoleum in Halicarnassus. A sarcophagus of fine workmanship found in the monument for which there was no knowledge as to whom it belonged is also on display here. The many lined inscription behind the sarcophagus was originally in the harbour of Ephesus and in the Byzantine period it was taken from there and used as part of an ambo in the Church of St. John. The inscription is a very important document concerning the harbour laws. It is therefore also known as the Monument of Ephesus.
The Hall Of The Tomb Objects
A part of the artifacts found in the tombs around Ephesus are on display in this hall. On the panel to the right of the entrance of the hall are shown examples of the tombs in Anatolia. In the showcase on the left are displayed pots from the Mycenaean tomb found accidentally during the arrangement of a car park for the Church of St. John. These artifacts dated back to the 13th and 14th centuries BC are the earliest pieces in the museum. The larger bowl was probably a wine holder and is decorated with figures of octopi. In the showcase next to this, small tomb gifts dated back from the 6th century BC to the 1st century AD are on display. The marble tomb stele in the same row was dated back to the Hellenistic period.
The sarcophagus of baked clay iin the showcase is o the Clazomenae type. Uncovered in the excavations of the Mercantile Agora of Ephesus, it is one of the rare archaic artifacts in the city. The sarcophagi called the Clazomenae type were given this name because they were first found in the city of the same name situated 60 kilometres to the west of Ephesus. In the sarcophagus there were also messages as gifts.
At the time of the burial, the relatives of the deceased would leave presents in the tomb according to their budgets. To put a coin between the lips of the deceased was also an important tradition. At the corner to the right of the Clazomenae sarcophagus are displayed the findings from the Cave of the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus.
One of these is an enlargement of a 16th century engraving kept at present in the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art in Istanbul. The engraving shows seven persons in Islamic clothes sleeping in the cave and their dog Kitmir. According to the Mohammedan belief the sleepers of the cave have slept for three hundred and nine years. The other engraving is taken from the Calendar of Saints of Basileus II. In this one the seven young men sleeping in the same cave are shown in 9th century Christian clothing. According to Christian myths the youths who took refuge in the cave slept for two hundred years. For centuries the Cave of the Seven Sleepers was chosen as a place of burial by the Christians who wanted to be reincarnated and tombs were built almost everywhere around the church standing in the cave. The artifacts displayed at the corner are urns and osteothecas. One of these, of onyx much used in the area for touristic purposes, is in the shape of an amphora.
In the showcase for glassware are displayed the glass objects found in the excavations in Ephesus. These were used as jars to hold wine, medicines and perfume. The coloured ones are glass vessels of Phoenician type which people loved to use in the Hellenistic period. The bracelets were in general used as objects of ornament for children. The large tomb stele on display at the next corner, according to the inscription on it, belonged to Olympia, daughter of Diocles. The bust of Olympia in the stele which is of a very rare shape has a sad expression. The head, draped in a shawl, must have carried a golden diadem as understood from the hole on it. To keep the diadem from being stolen the upper half of the stele was closed by an iron frame. The top of the piece has the aspect of a Doric temple.
In the showcase at the last corner on the left there is again a display of tomb gifts found around Ephesus. Next to it the history and reliefs of the Mother Goddess Cybele, the most ancient goddess of Anatolia, are on display. The relief showing Cybele sitting in a niche, made in the 5th century, is of a well known type. The others are bas-reliefs. Cybele is shown in the middle with Zeus on one side of her and Attis, her high priest, on the other. On the panel above, the history and evolution of Cybele in Anatolia are explained by drawings and writings, and the imortant cult centres of the goddess are shown on the map of Turkey nearby.
The earliest reliefs of the mother goddess in Turkey are those found in Catalhoyuk near Konya. They were dated back to the 7th century BC. As it can also be seen from the drawings, these statuettes showed the mother goddess fat and fecund. At the present day, they are exhibited at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations of Ankara.
The Hall Of Artemis
Three statues of Artemis found hidden in the excavation of the Prytaneum to the north of the State Agora of Ephesus and small artifacts presented to the temple are exhibited in this hall. The first exhibit on the left is a moulage copy the original of which is in the museum of History and Archaeology of Vienna. A fragment of the altar standing in front of the Temple of Artemis, it has reliefs of Amazons on it. In the big niche near it stands the famous Artemis of Ephesus.
Because of its large size it is also known as Artemis the Colossal. It stands calmly looking into the distance. She wears a long headdress decorated with reliefs of two rows of temples. The breastlike swells on her chest were first thought to be breasts, then bodies of bees (the emblem of Ephesus is a bee), but then the thesis that these were the testes of the bulls sacrificed to the goddess gained weight. Her arms are stretched forward. It is known that the earliest statues of Artemis were made of wood and that to keep them from rotting they were frequently smeared with sweet smelling oils and covered with coloured silk cloths. Apart from the face, the hands that remained uncovered were made of ivory or gold. It is understood that this tradition was continued also in the marble statues of the goddess. The hands are missing from the wrist out. It is certain that the wrists were not broken but made on purpose in this way to fasten on hands. The goddess has a richly decorated belt round her waist and lower down there are decorations of rows of animals, such as bulls, lions and griffins symbolizing her superiority, shown in partitions. The big reliefs of lions on her arms are strong evidence that the goddess was in the stage of transition from Cybele. In all the statues of Cybele there were lions at her side. The statue called Artemis the Colossal was made in the 1st century AD as the continuation of an earlier type.
A smaller statue of Artemis on display on the other narrow wall of the hall is know as Artemis the Beautiful. Indeed it was quite intact when found, particularly the face was untouched. It has the same form and posture. The goddess has stretched her arms forward as seen on coins. At her feet on both sides are her most sacred animals, the deer. On both sides of her head her sacred animals stand in a halo, round her neck she has a pearl necklace and at her sides are nikes, the symbol of her victory. The zodiac under the necklace shows the goddess' power over the heavens.
The traces of gilding on her neck are an indication that the statue was once completely gilded. According to its style, the statue called Artemis the Beautiful was created about fifty years after Artemis the Colossal. The marble block standing to the left of the statue of Artemis the Beautiful is a peace treaty between Ephesus and Alexandria in Egypt. On one side of the wreath in the centre there are the reliefs of Artemis of Ephesus and on the other those of Serapis. On the other side of the statue of Artemis stands another statue of her, a small and unfinished one.
The lead pipe in front of this belonged to the water duct extending to the Artemiseum. As a symbol of wealth it was made of lead with joints cut out of marble. The architectural decoration of classical design at the foot of the wall is of a fine workmanship. The horse near the same wall belonged to one of the quadrigae (chariots drawn by four horses) standing on one of the corners of the altar, a structure in the shape of an angular U, situated in front of the Temple of Artemis. The head and neck of the horse are particularly life like. The architectural fragments to the left of the exit door belonged to the temple. The lions heads were used as gargoyles. In the Byzantine period certain architectural elements of the temple were used in other constructions, and decorations were broken here and there. The frieze with the egg motif displayed here is one of these. The egg motif was broken and replaced by a cross. On the upper part of the wall near the Mall of the Tomb Objects there is a drawing of the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the world, and on the left corner a picture of the earliest excavations of the temple. In the showcase here a part of the gifts presented to the altar of the goddess are displayed. These are of valuable materials like gold and ivory as well as of bronze and marble. Glasslike small objects are of mountain crystal. It is not known for what purpose they were used.
The Hall Of The Emperors
Marble objects relating to busts and temples of emperors are displayed in this hall. The statue to the right of the entrance is that of the Consul Stefanos. It was found in the Curetes Street and was dated back to the 6th century. Stefanos who was a governor of Ephesus is shown with one hand lifted and about to drop a handkerchief. He was thus starting a game in the stadium or the theatre. The portraits of heads near the entrance belong to the period of the Holy Roman Empire. The one with the thick neck and small ears was probably a wrestling emperor. On the west wall of the hall, the marble frieze of the temple of the Emperor Hadrian is displayed together with a picture.
During the restoration of the temple the original was brought to the museum and a copy of the frieze was placed in the temple to avoid the decaying of the original under weather conditions. Androclus, the founder of Ephesus, the procession of Dionysus, and the Amazons are the main subjects represented on the frieze.
The last section of the frieze consisting of four parts differs in style from the others. The reason for this is believed to be that the fourth block of the frieze was damaged during the rebuilding of the temple which was destroyed in the earthquakes of the mid-4th century, next to the frieze of the Temple of Hadrian stands the altar of the Temple of Domitian. During the excavation of the temple the altar was found in fragments and was restored in the museum remaining true to the original. On the narrow face of the altar there is a relief showing a sacrificial bull in front of a smaller altar, and on the larger face reliefs of weapons and armours.
A head of a statue of monumentral dimensions displayed on the wall facing this altar is the Emperor Domitian. A part of the arms and legs of the statue were also found together with the head during the excavations. The statue of the emperor, believed to have stood between the temple and the altar in front of it, is supposed to have been 7 metres high together with its base.
The two statues standing to the right of the exit door are the Emperor Augustus and his wife Livia. These statues were found broken in the basilica near the upper Agora and were restored. Crosses were engraved on their foreheads when they were broken. Thus we can say that these statues were broken in the early Christian period.
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These are the artifacts that came from Ephesus, including the statues of Artemis from the temple.
You must first visit the epheses andi the slope houses then visit to ephesus museum.
After seeing the ruins, you must go to the museum , the artifacts from the ruins are unbelievable.
The Epehsus Museum combined with a stop at The Basilica of St. John in Slecuk proper are a great way to spend a morning or afternoon.
Interesting artifacts from Ephesus. Should not be missed.
The museum was not too impressive, but it is nice to have visited the place. The museum shop had some excellent litterature in english.
I thought the museum was alright, but it’s better to see things in Ephesus its self rather than a museum which could be anywhere in the world!
We found little of interest in this museum, the only highlights being the statues of Artemis and the figure of Bes (the rather well endowed one).
Unfortunately we were disappointed with the museum and based on all the signs at Ephesus which say “can be found in the museum” there didn’t seem to be a lot.
A smallish museum but quite good. The presentations varied and there were English descriptors. Some of it was indoors and other parts outside, a nice touch on a nice day.
Easily accessed anywhere from town, a trove of information about the area and particularly about Ephesus. We visited in before going to the ancient city, however would recommend Ephesus first and the museum second to appreciate what is being shown.
On a rainy afternoon I enjoyed my brief visit to this well laid out and maintained Museum – must be one of the best in Turkey not only for its exhibits but location too
Do not go to the Museum after you have been to Ephesus is to miss the “icing on the cake”.
You miss seeing the first coins, the extended fist, the naughty Priapus, the exquisite 2,500 yr old wine jug, the Amazon Women’s weapons .
Of course some people find icing too rich. Well yes, this museum is rich in its treasures and stories. Worth the taste.
We have read on another post that the onshore excursion “Dining Among the Ruins”, in front of the Celsus Library in Ephesus ,was a definite highlight to their trip. When looking up what is available on the Sept.26 ’09 departure from Istanbul, it appears to have changed to “Dine in the Garden at the Ancient Ephesus Museum”.
Would like to hear your opinion from anyone who has done the NEW itinerary at the Museum as opposed to the Library. Any insights would be appreciated. Thanks.
We did this cruise and the Dine Among the Ruins last fall. I don’t remember seeing an Ephesus Museum during any of our tour. Searching the web on the museum seems to indicate that it isn’t in Ephesus proper but closer to St. John’s Basilica . If that’s the case, that is too bad, as dining in front of the Celsius Library under a full moon was spectacular.
We also did the excursion in October under a full moon. One of the highlights of a lifetime. We also went to the Museum in town and it was really neat but it is a modern building. Not sure if it is the same place.
Other than the city itself, we are planning to visit: the House of the Virgin Mary, St. John’s Cathedral, the Temple of Artemis and if time allows a Terrace House ($7+) additional than the tour price for entry.
Are these all at different places then, away from Ephesus?
Yes, these are all separate from Ephesus (except Terrace Houses, like you mentioned), but I believe they are all fairly close to Ephesus.
You can spend however long at Ephesus as you’d like – I’d say you can do it in 2 to 3 hours if you want. It will likely be pretty hot, and there is no shade, so keep that in mind when determining how much time you want to spend. But, there is a lot to see, and the ruins are amazing, so don’t cut your time there too short!
I would definitely recommend spending some time perusing the Kusadasi bazaar. We also went out to Pigeon Island for a bit – not much to do out there, but the structure itself is pretty neat.
You probably need about 3-4 hours at Ephesus to do it properly (assuming you include the Terrace Houses).
I would also suggest visiting the Ephesus Museum in Selcuk, where many of the “finds” from Ephesus and from the Artemis temple can be seen.
I would also advise the village of SIRINCE, which is located 7 km. from the town of Selcuk and 9 km from Ephesus. Sirince is like an open air museum with old greek houses. In Sirince you can visit the restored greek church and the other ruined one. You can inspect the old greek houses, buy souvenirs at the shops, taste the local wine. It is a good choice for a good lunch.
I just returned yesterday from SOS. Ephesus is wonderful.
Do you need a visa to get into Ephesus if you are on the ship? Thanks!
We didn’t need visas when we were on the Rotterdam. Your ship should take care of everything.
We used Meander for a half day tour to Ephesus. There were four of us and the cost was $25 each. Extra charge to go into the terrace houses. We did go to a rug factory at the end but didn’t buy anything. We got back with lots of time for wandering around the bazaar and town.
ephesus is a huge site…includin g the terrace houses and you are looking at 3 hours to do it with the drive from the port….our full day was great…and we had a bit of time at the end for the bazaar at the port
This museum definitely exceeded my expectations. In addition to artifacts from ancient Ephesus and its houses, it had a nice collection of other antiquities. The Eros/Cupid collection was charming, the marble Artemis statues were fascinating, and there was an interesting exhibit about gladiators– who they were, how they fought, how they lived, and how they died. Well worth a visit. Allow 1.5-2.5 hours.
Although most people probably just visit Ephesus itself, we found the museum humanized the experience and put Ephesus into perspective for us. As in many parts of Turkey the explanations for things in museums aren’t always thorough, there were English language signs which spoke generally to the items here. Just a warning to those traveling with kids or rambunctious teens, there are some phallus figures (fertility god Bes we guessed) that are represented in this collection. If you have extra time and want to expand on a visit to Ephesus the museum is worth checking out. Watch out for their lunch hour in which the museum closes down. Easy to walk to the museum from St. John’s Basilica if you are visiting that. Probably about a 15 minute stroll.
We visited Ephesus late one afternoon and then the museum the next morning. I think we spent at least 2 hours there. We were amazed at the clarity of the displays. I would definitely put this on my must do list!
Seeing the artefacts in the museum after visiting the nearby historical sites like Ephesus is a good way to spend an hour. 8TL entry, airconditioned and clear labels on most exhibits in english. Displays of statues and artefacts of ephesus, ephesus’s teracce houses, artemis temple and more. I believe it will be closed soon to renovations.
It’s a nice small museum that has some very interesting pieces. Temple of Artemis is close by – worth a drive.
Although a great fan of historical places and events, to be honest I’m not much in to museums. But the Ephesus Museum was what I would call one of a kind. The objects are within arms reach of anybody. Some objects are placed behind glass, but a lot of other objects are out in an open display and if you wanted you could just reach out and touch artifacts that date back beyond time. And the artifacts are varied and beautiful, a great place.
I stayed in Selcuk in September, just round the corner from the Ephesus Museum. I visited the museum twice. It is not huge but the exhibits are beautifully presented and the staff very helpful, trying their best with English and my fractured Turkish.
The museum really shows how Ephesus fits in to the history of Asia Minor and is an essential part of any visit to the area. There are excellent refreshment facilities just nearby to augment the rather basic facility inside. Also the toilets are scrupulously clean.
The museum is a real gem. I will certainly not miss it when I visit this year.
Dont get me wrong… I’m someone who generally likes museums a lot.. I can spend hours in them. I love museums. I blew through this in a half hour.
But this was quite disappointing. After touring the ruins in Ephesus, I was left with a lot of questions about the city. This museum answered very little of them. There are quite a bit of objects here, statuary, etc… but not a whole lot of explanation to what you are seeing. Much more extensive written background on the objects, on Ephesus in general would be very helpful. OVerall, this could be skipped in favor of seeing more of Selcuk.
Museum in good shape, showcasing what was taken from the ruins.But if you find museums boring, then its not worth it. The ruins provide a lot, go roam through all the ruins, see NIKE, See Artemis’s Temple (Goddess of fertility, Daughter of ZEUS), though, much of it is destroyed.See big Colosseum, lots of it & feel how the Romans used to live there long ago, see the latrines they built… One of my favorite destinations in Turkeye & a must see (you’ll regret not going there)… Feel the Genius of Romans…
Here are some unique pieces, like the Artemis figures. A great bust of Marcus Aurelius. Some miniatures in wood from a cabinet.
We just walked through slowly and let it soak in.
Going to the museum after visiting Ephesus is worthwhile. Some of the best finds are there, rather than spirited off to Istanbul. Try to move ahead of tour groups, then swing back behind them…
We visited in what is probably off season but it was still difficult to get pictures without a crowd… Obviously the library of Celsus and temple of Hadrien stand out, but it is foremost good to see like streets with houses that you can imagine in a much better way than when just a few stones are remaining. We also visited the terraced house which requires paying extra 15 TRY (per person, no exception for kids), and would recommend it for its magnitude and good preservation. Close to the immense theater (but partly not accessible due to renovation works), there is a repetitive short theater play about two gladiators fighting which kids may like (I wil not comment on the others, but people are happy to take some pictures it seems). Expensive site (20 TRY, free till 12 yrs old), without terraced houses and carpark (7.5 TRY)
An interesting way to spend an hour. Has lots of statues found at Ephesus as well as old carriages and other displays.
Some great displays in this museum and lots of things from Ephesus to add some detail…
Though i am not a Museum person, i did enjoy walking around this museum. The price was only 8 TL. but the items in the shop were a little pricey, especially the postcards.
Ephesus was fantastic exellant value for money very popular with tourists wellworth a trip.
A great little museum which gives you more of an insight into the Ephesus site.
Was a little difficult to find and we had to ask a local where it was, but it is well worth a visit and is very good value for the small entrance fee.
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Great sculpture and artifacts from the ancient site of Ephesus, including an amazing Artemis statue uncovered from the grounds of the Artemis temple. Much more.
Teresa Cullen
Great museum for seeing the statues and mosaics that they’ve removed from Ephesus.
Totally worth 8TL.They stay open half an hour later than the last admission.
The museum is not large but contains impressive finds from the Ephesus ancient city site. We visited early in the morning and by the time we’d spent two hours exploring, the cruise ship buses were starting to line up outside.
Another option is to visit after 2pm when it is quiet. Having spent five days in Selcuk we returned late afternoon to wander around with only one other couple in the museum. Being small there is not a lot of room and queues to photograph some of the intricate displays and impressive artefacts is not pleasant.
You do need 8TL to enter as the friendly entrance staff require either lira or euros.
We went to the museum before we walked the actual grounds of Ephesus, and it was the perfect introduction to what we were about to witness. I feel one is missing out if they were to see one and not the other.
The museum contains many statues, facades and relics that would not be able to survive if left inside the ruins.
We had a tour for Ephesus which covered museum apart from the ruins as well. If you have a good guide the ruins will demonstrate/let you visualize the life around ephesus. Also most of the important artifacts were taken by earlier excavators to their respective countries.
Even though our guide explained many important artifacts in details all I remember is the pretty sarcophagus’s.
I did not find Museum a must visit.
Museums was comfortable, filled with marble statues from Ephesus, and depiction of each object or what a place used to be like.
A must after the visit to the archeological site.
my cab driver on my way to the Ephesus told me that it is estimated that only about 20% of the ancient city has been unearthed, 80% still buried and still to be discovered
Many of the statuary, mosaics and other objects found in Ephesus are housed in the Ephesus Museum (most though were “sent out” to countries that was involved in the earlier excavation and now housed in many museums in Germany, England, US, etc) and while the collection in the museum is already really good, the fact a huge portion of the ancient city is still underground simply means that the collection in the museum will only expand and become more intensive and intense
Lots of statues and all other sorts of things that have been dug up at Ephesus. Interesting for adults not sure children would enjoy it.
Cheap to get in, and very cool inside on a hot day! Worth a visit if your at Selcuck for the market.
It was the most comprehensive collection of antiquity and very well presented
Avery huge place with lots of history. Good place to visit
A good stop after seeing Ephesus. Very cheap entrance fee.
After the Archeological Museum of Istanbul it is a must. Do not miss the statue of Artemis in ephesus museum
Easily accessed anywhere from town, a trove of information about the area and particularly about Ephesus. We visited in before going to the ancient city, however would recommend Ephesus first and the museum second to appreciate what is being shown.
On a rainy afternoon I enjoyed my brief visit to this well laid out and maintained Museum – must be one of the best in Turkey not only for its exhibits but location too
To not go to the Museum after you have been to Ephesus is to miss the “icing on the cake”. You miss seeing the first coins, the extended fist, the naughty Priapus, the exquisite 2,500 year old wine jug, the Amazon Women’s weapons .Of course some people find icing too rich. Well yes, this museum is rich in its treasures and stories. Worth the taste.
Don’t need more than an hour,what they had was nice, but few explanations and small.
This is the best historical placae I have ever been. It is really close to Kusadasi and Izmir.
This is a must see place for sure
So much history here you cant not go! Be aware they dont sell water or anything inside so take your own and also there is no shade at all and in the hot summer sun it is very very hot
So much history here you cant not go! Be aware they dont sell water or anything inside so take your own and also there is no shade at all and in the hot summer sun it is very very hot
excellent ancient site, if you are interested in history ,this is your must visit place
Going to Ephesus, I wanted to be walking and imagining what Cleopatra and Alexander the Great plus the religious icons of the times like Mother Mary and St John were seeing and possibly feeling.When I first picked up a book about Ephesus, I just KNEW that I had to get myself there. I mean it was one of the richest of all the amazingly rich cities in Turkey over 2,000 years ago.
I thought it would be “really” smart of me to hire a personal guide for our private group to take us first to the Ephesus Museum..as that is where all the relics, vases, statues, amazing mozaics and more were housed.
So that’s what we did. From a friends recommendation, we found Archaeologous, a company specializing in private/guided full and half day tours mostly for cruise ship passengers.She was extremembe pleased with their services, so we booked them online and the day was truly wonderful.
Contains objects removed from Ephesus and surrounding area, including some fascinating sculptures. There is a large outdoor section to the museum with exhibits and demonstrations relating to local culture, but this part was not open in the wintertime.
There is not much to see and can be missed if there is a constraint for time. But if not its not too bad a visit. It has some pieces from the Ephesus site which are intersting along with some pieces from the temple of Artemis.
I first saw this museum in 1970 shortly after the first (north) wing opened. Since then it has been much expanded. The rooms are theme-based rather than chronological, and they display the most interesting and best items, rather than everything, so it is quite selective. The descriptions are in Turkish and English and are quite good, as is the official guide book purchasable in the shop. Don’t miss the ethnographic sections either; there is a nice little selection of small Turkish shops (barber’s, blacksmith’s, bead-makers, rose-water distillery), a hamam and the museum also incorporates one of the old mosques of the town. The shop has both tourist tat and some very attractive and fine, but more expensive, souvenirs.
I first saw this museum in 1970 shortly after the first (north) wing opened. Since then it has been much expanded. The rooms are theme-based rather than chronological, and they display the most interesting and best items, rather than everything, so it is quite selective. The descriptions are in Turkish and English and are quite good, as is the official guide book purchasable in the shop. Don’t miss the ethnographic sections either; there is a nice little selection of small Turkish shops (barber’s, blacksmith’s, bead-makers, rose-water distillery), a hamam and the museum also incorporates one of the old mosques of the town..
The Epehsus Museum combined with a stop at The Basilica of St. John in Slecuk proper are a great way to spend a morning or afternoon (2-3 hours).
The Museum contains the Artemis Statues and some incredible pieces of a monumental statue of a Roman Emperor.
There is a great exhibit of the “Socrates Room” with a painting of Socrates. Add in the fact the whole thing costs $4.50 in USD its a total bonus! Oh and all the exhibits have descriptions in English! Good Stuff!
I went to a classical music concert last autumn which was fantastic.
it was in front of the library and never to be forgotten.
Interesting artifacts from Ephesus. Should not be missed if you’re in the area.
Exhibits could use better signage.
The museum was not too impressive, but it is nice to have visited the place
The museum shop had some excellent litterature in english.
I thought the museum was alright, but it’s better to see things in Ephesus its self rather than a museum which could be anywhere in the world!
We found little of interest in this museum, the only highlights being the statues of Artemis and the figure of Bes (the rather well endowed one). Unfortunately we were disappointed with the museum and based on all the signs at Ephesus which say “can be found in the museum” there didn’t seem to be a lot.
A smallish museum but quite good. The presentations varied and there were English descriptors.
Some of it was indoors and other parts outside, a nice touch on a nice day.
The city where ancient architect is normally.
I visited this museum simply for something to do one afternoon while in Selcuk. It was great. Having visited Ephesus that morning I found it to be a very nice compliment to whole thing. Many interesting artifacts and recreations of what things looked like all those years ago. There also a few nice spots outside the museum for a beer.
Incredible to see up close and personal after visiting Ephesus
you get to see some artifacts in detail. It is quite a small museum, but very nice.
Just swing by the museum after visiting ephesus.
These are the artifacts that came from Ephesus, including the statues of Artemis from the temple.
OK but not outstanding. A bit small, and not as many interesting pieces as the Aphrodisias Museum.
Not sure it’s worth seeing.
The things in the Ephesus Museum are fascinating. It enhanced our visit the next day to Ephesus.
If you first visit the ancient city of Epheses AND its Slope Houses then a visit to Selcuk’s Ephesus Museum becomes worthwhile. because the Museum contains artifacts (small statues) found in recent decades in the recently excavated parts of ancient Ephesus. (Artifacts uncovered prior to WWII are largely in Austria).
Musem is centrally located across the street from Selcuks transportation center and its municpial park.
Good way to spend a rainy day in Selcuk. Nice way to augment the Ephesus tour dont miss the museum of ephesus
After seeing the ruins, you must go to the museum , the artifacts from the ruins are unbelievable
should not be missed, ephesus museum is great
Ephesus is the reason to go to Selcuk but dont miss the museum of ephesus
If you’re in the Selcuk area, you’re likely there to see Ephesus museum
Incredible well preserved ruins of temples and homes from ancient times allow you to actually see and feel how people lived in those times.
ephesus museum is very beatuful and in ephesus you need just a little immagination to figure out yourself walking in those streets 2000 years ago!!!
the Celsus library is still amazing when you are in front of it….
I did a private tour, and was well worth it. the ruins are so unbelievable it’s hard to take it all in! Ephesus museum was definitely greatnd spend all the time you need to really appreciate it?
evidently it will require a lot of imagination to visualize the city as it was 2000 years ago but the ruins and the boards describing each section were simply awesome; it’s almost like one is walking in the same streets 2000 years ago!
to enjoy it, make sure to wear comfortable shoes as it would involve a lot of walking (it took me about 5 hours to go through the city)
I rented the audio tour but admittedly it was of little help since the history of each section was described pretty well on the boards.
first time when i visited this place was when i was in primary school boyscout camp. you must see newly excavated terrace houses
One of the best-preserved ancient sites I’ve ever visited. The marble road leading downhill, the library, the latrines, the theaters are all spectacular. I’ve been twice in the past 10 years, and both times was fortunate to be there with few crowds and during a cool time of day and year.
What you read about the splendour of the ancient city of Ephesus is accurate and comes to life with an excellent knowledgable guide. If you get the chance you can enter the area on the left prior to the library to view current excavation work and marvel at the amount of work yet to be done. At current rates there…
The ruins at Ephesus are intriguing and grand. You can really get the feel for the city when 30,000 people lived here and when the city was at its peak in 200 AD. We thought the ruins were much better preserved than the Roman Forum.
The Library was so impressive. Would recommend going on a guided tour.
Ephesus is a well preserved ruin and you can get a genuine feel for the ancient Roman city. Many of the building walls are still standing and the road paving is intact on the three main streets. We found the library facade and the well preserved amphitheatre quite spectacular.
In felt like I was walking the very streets the Apostle Paul walked on 2000 years ago. Not to be missed.
A history buff could spend a lifetime inside these ruins. Feel lucky if you get to spend a handful of hours taking it all in. Ephesus is a one of a kind experience – breathtakingly beautiful. We hired a guide who kept us at a comfortable pace throughout the site, which is probably for the best, because it’s easy to stop and gawk for hours at a building or statue and end up missing a portion of the city by the end of the day.
The ruins of Ephesus were one of my two favorite sites in Turkey (the other being Cappadocia). The Ephesian ruins are unbelievably well preserved. The library is breathtaking! Our guide did a great job bringing the Roman culture to life. I enjoyed The Temple of Artemis, seeing the ancient plumbing and toilets, the Roman spa system which included hot pools and cold pools and separate facilities for men and women. I enjoyed seeing the terrace houses and the mosaics. Having a great guide brought the experience to life, but I would have loved visiting even if I’d been on a self-guided tour. Bring a camera. You will want to record this.