Ephesus Museum, Selçuk, Turkey
The Ephesus Museum (Efes Müzesi) in the town of Selçuk (map) holds the best of the archeological objects excavated at Ephesus, a few artifacts from Ephesus's great Temple of Artemis (the Artemision), and finds from some of the many other significant ancient Hellenic, Hellenistic and Roman cities in the region.
Closed for renovation for several years, the work was finished early in 2015 and the museum is again open to visitors. The new building is admirably done, the exhibits refined and well displayed, with explanations in Turkish and English.
Located near the tourism office in the Selçuktown center (map), the museum preserves many of the archeological treasures, including the marble statues of the Anatolian fertility goddess Cybele (Artemis) with rows of egg-like breasts.
Alas, I did not see the statuettes of the phallic god Priapus, nor that lovely little bronze statuette of a boy on a dolphin which you may have seen in photos. I wonder where they are...
The renovated museum has more exhibition space, but about 40% of the overall space is now dedicated to the gift shop and café.
Still, the museum makes a good stop after you've visited the Ephesus archeological site, and before you visit the St John Basilica and İsa Bey Mosque on Ayasoluk Hill nearby.
The Ephesus Museum (Efes Müzesi) is open every day from 08:30 am to 17:30 (5:30 pm), but ticket sales stop at 17:00 (5:00 pm). Admission costs TL10.
If you're interested in archeological sites, this region abounds with them. Consider spending a day doing the Priene-Miletus-Didyma Tour, or a trip to Aphrodisias, or even a day-trip to Pamukkale (Hiearpolis) and Laodicea.
—by Tom Brosnahan
Best Travel Agencies 