Visiting Ephesus Museum in Selcuk, Turkey
Author: Janice Vazquez | Last updated: February 15, 2024
The Ephesus Museum, located in Selcuk, Turkey, contains findings from the excavations at Ephesus Archaeological Site, Basilica of St. John, and the Temple of Artemis. The museum consists of 8 exhibition rooms and a gift shop at the end.
Selcuk is an incredible city to visit in Turkey due to its proximity to the most popular attractions in Turkey. The attractions include the Ephesus Archaeological Site, Basilica of St. John & Castle of Ayasoluk, Temple of Artemis, and the House of Virgin Mary. In this article, I’ll share my experience visiting the Ephesus Museum in Selcuk, Turkey.
Ephesus Museum
During my visit to the Ephesus Museum, our taxi driver dropped my family and me at the front entrance. Upon entering, I proceeded to the first room, where a collection of sculptures caught my attention.
Moving on to the next room, I delivered into the daily life of terrace houses. I was intrigued to learn that these families conducted religious ceremonies within their homes, including pouring wine on the floor as offerings to the gods.
Courtyard
Midway through the museum, I stepped outside to the courtyard, where I marveled at the marble sarcophagus.
After a brief 10-minute exploration, we returned indoors to continue our museum journey. A small hallway showcased reliefs from the Mother Goddess Cult.
The Great Artemis
As I proceeded down the corridor, I entered a dimly lit room housing the stunning 2nd century statue of the Great Artemis. The intricately carved sculpture, adorned with details like the two animals (stags) by her side, the necklace reflecting the zodiac to the grape clusters on her body. Everything about this statue was beautiful and exquisite.
In the Imperial Cult room, more statues were on display, and I particularly enjoyed examining the massive head and arm of Emperor Domitian.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the museum as it was full of descriptive information panels and a diverse array of artifacts. I had the opportunity to observe artifacts from the Ephesus Archaeological Site and gain insights into life in Ancient Ephesus.
Visiting on a quiet weekday during the wintertime allowed for a serene exploration, with few people around, making it easy to appreciate each artifact and capture memorable pictures. Once I exited the museum, I saw our taxi driver waiting to take us to the Temple of Artemis.
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