The thousands of years of religious and cultural accumulation in Ephesus still leave their traces today. Although the Temple of Artemis is now represented only by its foundations and a few column remnants, its place in the list of the Seven Wonders of the World ensures its continued prominence in our memories. Each year, thousands of visitors tour this ancient temple site and the Ephesus Ruins, feeling the grandeur of the past. The statues of Artemis stand among the most precious relics to have reached our time: two cult statues known as “Great Artemis” and “Beautiful Artemis” were discovered in 1956 during the Ephesus excavations at the Prytaneion and began being exhibited at the Selçuk Ephesus Museum. These statues convey the splendid depiction of the city's primary goddess to contemporary people, while details such as the bee and deer motifs on them demonstrate the persistence of ancient symbols. The figure of the bee, which has become a symbol of Ephesus, continues to live on in the city's cultural identity today. Not surprisingly, Ephesus was historically referred to as the “City of Bees”; the title Melissa (bee) given to the priestesses of Artemis and the depictions of bees on ancient coins have preserved this tradition in modern narratives.

The founding legend of Ephesus and the Artemis cult have guided the historical development of the region for centuries. Even during the Christian era, the strong tradition of the primary goddess in Ephesus was not entirely erased; the Council gathered here in 431, where the Virgin Mary was declared “Mother of God,” is considered by some historians to reflect the legacy left by the Artemis cult. 

Today, organizations like the Ephesus Foundation and communities like the Ephesian Community keep this rich heritage alive through the approach of creative industries, transmitting Ephesus’s stories to new generations. The legends of Artemis, Androclus, and other tales of Ephesus continue to inspire artists, writers, and designers. Consequently, symbols, mythological stories, and traditions from ancient Ephesus are still remembered and kept alive. This cultural heritage is reflected in the identity of modern Ephesus and in the cultural-touristic activities in the region, building a bridge between past and present.


The thousands of years of religious and cultural accumulation in Ephesus still leave their traces today. Although the Temple of Artemis is now represented only by its foundations and a few column remnants, its place in the list of the Seven Wonders of the World ensures its continued prominence in our memories. Each year, thousands of visitors tour this ancient temple site and the Ephesus Ruins, feeling the grandeur of the past. The statues of Artemis stand among the most precious relics to have reached our time: two cult statues known as “Great Artemis” and “Beautiful Artemis” were discovered in 1956 during the Ephesus excavations at the Prytaneion and began being exhibited at the Selçuk Ephesus Museum. These statues convey the splendid depiction of the city's primary goddess to contemporary people, while details such as the bee and deer motifs on them demonstrate the persistence of ancient symbols. The figure of the bee, which has become a symbol of Ephesus, continues to live on in the city's cultural identity today. Not surprisingly, Ephesus was historically referred to as the “City of Bees”; the title Melissa (bee) given to the priestesses of Artemis and the depictions of bees on ancient coins have preserved this tradition in modern narratives.

The founding legend of Ephesus and the Artemis cult have guided the historical development of the region for centuries. Even during the Christian era, the strong tradition of the primary goddess in Ephesus was not entirely erased; the Council gathered here in 431, where the Virgin Mary was declared “Mother of God,” is considered by some historians to reflect the legacy left by the Artemis cult. 

Today, organizations like the Ephesus Foundation and communities like the Ephesian Community keep this rich heritage alive through the approach of creative industries, transmitting Ephesus’s stories to new generations. The legends of Artemis, Androclus, and other tales of Ephesus continue to inspire artists, writers, and designers. Consequently, symbols, mythological stories, and traditions from ancient Ephesus are still remembered and kept alive. This cultural heritage is reflected in the identity of modern Ephesus and in the cultural-touristic activities in the region, building a bridge between past and present.