Temple of Hestia

Ephesus


The Prytaneum hosted this shrine, where the city's eternal flame was tended by vestal virgins, and was fronted by a giant statue of Artemis, now in the Ephesus Museum in Selçuk. The fertility goddess was portrayed with huge breasts and arms extended in welcome, though her hands (probably crafted from gold) are long gone.

Many of the statues of deities, emperors and other luminaries here originally had precious gemstones for eyes – another indicator of Ephesian wealth.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Ephesus attractions

1. Prytaneum

Two of six original Doric columns mark the entrance to the ruined Prytaneum, one of the most important civic structures in Ephesus. Within and dedicated…

2. Odeon

0.03 MILES

Built around AD 150, this once-lavish 1400-seat theatre boasts marble seats with lions' paws and other carved ornamentation. It was used primarily for…

3. Upper Agora

0.05 MILES

This large square measuring 58m by 170m, and used for legislation and local political talk, was flanked by grand columns and filled with polished marble…

4. Temple of Isis

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Objects discovered in this small temple in the Upper Agora suggested that it was dedicated to the Egyptian goddess Isis.

5. Memmius Monument

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This monument from the 1st century AD is dedicated to Caius Memmius, nephew of the dictator Sulla who sacked Ephesus in 84 BC. Pillars with dancing…

6. Hydreion

0.06 MILES

This rectangular fountain with four columns sits next to the Memmius Monument.

7. Pollio Fountain

0.06 MILES

Backing onto the Upper Agora, this fountain honouring the builder of a nearby aqueduct hints at the lavish nature of ancient Ephesus' fountains, most of…

8. Hercules Gate

0.07 MILES

Marking the upper boundary of the Curetes Way, this two-storey gate with reliefs of Hercules on both main pillars was constructed in the 4th century AD…

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