This morning we are taking a breather from the outside and taking a leisurely stroll through the Ephesus Museum. Since we’ve been to the ancient city, I want to see some of the items that were inside those buildings don’t you?  Most of these artifacts were dug up between 1867-1905 and were transported to the British Museum. Findings from 1905-1923 were taken to Vienna. The items were sent to the country that was paying the bill to dig them up! When the New Turkish Republic was established, the government forbade taking antiquities out of the country. They also required that all artifacts that were taken out of the country  previously, be returned to Turkey. In 1964, the New Ephesus Museum was ready and findings at the Ephesus archeological site and the surrounding area and the artifacts brought back from various countries, were put in this museum. Let’s look inside ………

I had to ask about the storks. The storks nest is on the top of the museum. When the storks migrate, the nest is taken down and saved until the next year, when the storks return.

The museum is divided into themes: Sculptures from the Fountains, Finds from the Terrace Houses, Coins, Ephesus Through the Ages, the Courtyard with Columns and Tombs, Hall of the Mother Goddess Cult, Hall of the Ephesus Artemis, Hall of the Imperial Cult and the Museum Shop and Café. It is a very busy place with lots to see, so I will highlight some of my favorites . I know nothing about any of these pieces and while I find them interesting enough to look at, I don’t want to know all the history…… You know what I mean? For detailed details look elsewhere. I’m just passin’ through.

I love the huge jugs…….

There were many busts…..

and statues…..

and parts of statues……

and Eros…..with a rabbit…….

and Marcus Aurelius, Emperor of Rome. Remember, he freed a favorite slave to build one of the main gates in Ancient Ephesus.

and Artemis…..worshipped as a fertility goddess.

With sculptures, big…….

and small……

We visited the small pot room…….

and then went outside to see the column pieces and sarcophaguses……..

Going back to the port in Kusadasi, we were invited to a rug making demonstration.  I pictured, in my mind, a group of women and a loom in a big tent on the mountain side. What I got was a large new factory with the most aggressive salesman on earth. You know you are in for it when you are invited to sit and have tea. I was interested through the lecture and watching the women at the loom.

and when they talked about dying the silk………

Mostly, the man talked and the women demoed. I don’t think the women spoke English and they kept to their task, workerbee.

and making the thread….. but, when the men showed up and started to hurl one giant rug, after the other, out on the floor, on top of each other……..rug after rug….

“What color do you like?” they asked. “We have more colors and sizes on other floors.” They would not take no for an answer………..we got up to leave and they followed us, all the way to the door and out, offering to show more rugs. So I learned…….when asked again at other port stops, if I would like to see a demo of rug making……….. the answer was “no” ( in my mind HELL NO) or I already have a rug, thank you! Movin on!

I hope you have enjoyed our little jaunt today. I have included it with Jo’s Monday Walk. If you would like to include your walk or see where others are walking today, stop by and see Jo!

See you next in another spot! Cady