Efes Müzesi | |
![]() Statues from the Fountain of Trajan | |
Location | Selçuk, İzmir Province, Turkey |
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Coordinates | 37°56′56″N 27°22′4″E / 37.94889°N 27.36778°E |
Type | Archaeological museum |
Website | Ephesus Museum |

The Ephesus Archaeological Museum (Turkish: Efes Müzesi) is an archaeological museum in Selçuk near the Ancient Greek city of İzmir, Turkey. It houses finds from the nearby Ephesus excavation site. Its best-known exhibit is the ancient statue of the Greek Goddess Artemis retrieved from the temple of the goddess in Ephesus.[1]
History
[edit]The artefacts dug up at Ephesus between 1867 and 1905 were taken to be displayed at the British Museum, and those excavated from 1905 to 1923 were taken to the Ephesos Museum in Vienna.[2] Turkish law was changed to forbid taking any findings out of the country, and a depot was constructed in Selçuk in 1929 to store items discovered from this point onwards.[3] With the growth in the number of artefacts, it became necessary to transfer them to a larger space, and the museum was opened in 1964. The museum space was then further expanded in 1976. [3] Until recently, all excavations were displayed in the museum, however due to size constraints, some pieces are now displayed at the excavation site.[4] There has also been a large effort to repatriate artefacts taken out of the country.[5]
There are approximately 64 thousand pieces exhibited in the Ephesus Museum.[6] The items showcased are from across a variety of historical periods, including Hellenistic, Roman and Early Christian periods.[5] The museum also holds items from Çukuriçi Höyük, the Basilica of St. John, and the Temple of Artemis.[5]
The museum closed at the end of 2012, and reopened in November 2014 after extensive renovations.[7]
Sections in Ephesus Archaeological Museum
[edit]- Terrace Houses Findings Hall
- Fountain Findings Hall
- New Findings and Small Findings Hall
- Great Courtyard
- Grave Findings Hall
- Artemis of Ephesus Hall
- Emperor Cults Hall
- Small Courtyard[6]
References
[edit]- ^ "Ancient Ephesus City Ruins in Turkey". Ephesusbreeze.com. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
- ^ "Ephesus Museum". Ephesus. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
- ^ a b "Ephesus Museum in Selçuk". Turkish Archaeological News. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
- ^ "Ephesus Archaeological Museum". Best Ephesus Tours Blog. 5 March 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
- ^ a b c "Exploring the Ephesus Archaeological Museum - Ephesus". 12 August 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
- ^ a b Gülday, Hasan (May 5, 2020). "Ephesus Archeological Museum". Tours Around Turkey. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ^ "Ephesus Odeum". The Ancient Theatre Archive. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
Notes
[edit]- "Ephesus Museum, Selçuk". sacred-destinations.com. Archived from the original on 12 January 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- 440 or so pictures from the museum
- Detailed description of the museum's exhibitions with photos
- Ephesus Museum Guide