Ephesus Guided Tours – Discover the Ephesus Museum
Ephesus guided tours offer more than just ancient streets. One top stop is the famous Ephesus Museum.
The tour begins with the Roman Period House Finds Room. It displays items from the upper-class Slope Houses. You will see a bronze Eros with a Dolphin and a fresco of Socrates from the 3rd century. One rare item is the Bes figurine, found near the brothel. Bes is an Egyptian god who protected mothers and childbirth.
Amazing Finds from the Slope Houses
The Ephesus Museum also holds the Ivory Frieze. It shows Emperor Trajan and Roman soldiers fighting barbarians. It once decorated a higher level of a Slope House.
Other displays show daily life. Medical tools and beauty instruments are in one section. These were used by the medical school in Roman Ephesus. You can also see a wall of portraits of Ephesian doctors.
Join an expert-led ephesus sightseeing tour to explore these in more detail.
Ephesus Guided Tours – The Goddess Artemis
One of the most visited parts of the museum features two giant statues of Artemis. The first one is “Beautiful Artemis” from the 1st century AD. The second is “Great Artemis” from the 2nd century AD.
These statues are rich with symbols. Scholars think the rows of lumps on her body represent bull testicles. Earlier, people thought they were eggs or breasts. Either way, they show her power over fertility.
Artemis was the main goddess of Ephesus and deeply loved by the people.
Ephesus Guided Tours – The Fountain Statues
Visitors can also enjoy statues found in monumental fountains. These include a headless Aphrodite and a Zeus head from the 1st century AD.
There is also a youthful Dionysus statue and others from the imperial family. These were once part of the Fountain of Trajan. See more regional history in our Bulgaria tours.
Larger Artifacts and Monuments
In the museum courtyard, you can see large artifacts. One of them is the pediment from the Temple of Augustus. It was rebuilt using original statues, which were once reused in the Fountain of Polio.
Another highlight is a Sarcophagus with Muses from the 3rd century AD. You will also find the Ephesus Monument. It was created in 62 AD and has Roman tax laws by Emperor Nero. This connects nicely with Istanbul old city tours.
Ephesus Guided Tours – The Temple of Hadrian
The last gallery includes many Roman sculptures. The most famous is the Temple of Hadrian frieze. A copy of the frieze stands at the original site.
This carving shows the founding of Ephesus, the birth of the Artemis cult, and the Amazon warriors. Some original parts of this piece are now in Vienna.
To plan your museum visit, contact us.
Explore history with expert Ephesus guided tours that bring ancient wonders to life.
