Craftsmanship is a form of production shaped by human dexterity, creativity, and patience, resulting from knowledge and techniques passed down from generation to generation. It is not only a process of making an item but also a medium that reflects social memory, cultural values, and aesthetic understanding. In Ephesus, craftsmanship is one of the key elements that carry the traces of the past to the present, nourishing local identity and lifestyle.
In ancient Ephesus, craftsmanship was quite advanced, showcasing expertise in many fields such as ceramics, metalwork, sculpture, and mosaic-making. These crafts held significant importance in the city's economy and daily life.
Master Potters
The ceramic craftsmen of Ephesus mastered the production of jugs, bowls, oil lamps, and various decorative items thanks to the fertile clay of the city. Potters would clean and shape the clay before forming vessels on the wheel, then fire them in kilns. Excavations have uncovered ancient kiln remains indicating the presence of ceramic production from the earliest periods of the city. The surfaces of the products were sometimes decorated using techniques like painting, engraving, or stamping; besides everyday items, decorative figurines were also produced. Especially in the Hellenistic period, the Ephesos-type lamps produced in Ephesus made from gray-colored clay were mass-produced in molds and widely exported. Indeed, ceramic vessels and glassware manufactured in Ephesus became trade items throughout the empire thanks to their quality.
Stone Masters and Sculptors
The fame of Ephesus came from the fineness of the stone works adorning the city. Sculptors and stone masters processed marble and limestone blocks quarried to create statues, reliefs, and architectural adornments belonging to gods, emperors, and notable individuals. Monumental structures in the city such as temples, the theater, the library, and wealthy residences were famous for the sculptures and detailed stone decorations produced by these artisans. Gravestone masters also carefully shaped stelae and sarcophagi erected in necropoleis, carving scenes from daily life or the deceased person’s portrait using relief techniques and marking them with inscriptions. Stone workshops typically operated in areas with intense construction activity; for instance, many sculptors worked on the construction of the Temple of Artemis and public buildings. The works of these craftsmen contributed uniquely to the cultural heritage of Ephesus by embellishing its public spaces.
Glass Masters
Glass masters in ancient Ephesus, particularly during the Roman Imperial period, conducted small-scale yet valuable productions. In the city's glass workshops, sand and other materials were melted in high-temperature furnaces (~900-1000°C) and the molten glass was taken with long iron rods and blown or poured into molds to be shaped. In this way, perfume bottles (unguentarium), beads (especially those like evil eye beads), and glass bowls were produced in various forms. The numerous beads uncovered in Ephesus are part of the glass bead tradition that has persisted in Anatolia since prehistoric times. Small containers and ornamental objects created by glass masters were used in the daily life of the local population, and some special Ephesus glasses were in demand in other cities of the empire. The transparency and colorful varieties of glassware held an important place in the rich perfume and cosmetic culture of the era.
Weavers and Tailors
In Ephesus, weaving existed both as a domestic production and a commercial craft. Weavers wove fabrics on looms using yarns spun from sheep wool or linen fibers. Ancient sources mention that Ephesus and its surroundings were famous for their quality textile products. An inscription noting that the textiles produced in the neighboring city of Hierapolis were shipped to Mediterranean countries via the port of Ephesus illustrates this. On the looms of Ephesus's weavers, loom weights made of terracotta were used to keep the warp threads taut. Archaeological excavations in the city, especially in the Terrace Houses, have uncovered numerous weaving tools such as spindles and loom weights, indicating that weaving was a widespread domestic pursuit. Women typically produced fabric on an upright vertical loom in a room inside the house, while tailors measured and cut these fabrics into garments. Traditional clothing such as peplos and himation were skillfully tailored and sewn to fit different physiques; for opulent attire, imported threads like silk and vibrant brocade weaves were also used. Ephesus textiles, dyed with natural colors and adorned with various motifs, dictated the fashion of the time. Weaving and tailoring constituted an important sector in the Ephesus economy, meeting the city’s own needs as well as providing export goods.
