Bees and deer are depicted on many of the coins of Ephesus. The bee is closely identified with Ephesus and has become the symbol of Ephesus. The deer, on the other hand, was inspired by the deer, which is the symbol of Artemis in mythology, the temple of Artemis is located in Ephesus. For this reason, almost all the coins of Ephesus have a deer motif and some have a bee motif. Let’s take a look at the Great Stories Behind Ephesus Coins!
The earliest record of the bee symbol in Ephesus dates back to the sixth century BC. At that time, Ephesus was a small but strategically important city. Parallel to the importance of the city, the bee symbol became widespread in the art, architecture, and coinage of Ephesus.
According to mythology, Melissa was a nymph who lived in the forest of Ephesus and was known for her beauty and kindness. One day, when the god Apollo pursued her, Melissa prayed to Artemis for protection. Artemis transformed her into a bee, and thus she escaped Apollo’s pursuit. From that day on, Melissa became known as the protector of bees and was depicted on the coins and artifacts of Ephesus.
One of the most famous examples is the bee symbol found on Ephesus coins. On these coins, a stylized bee appears in a dotted circle, often in combination with other symbols like the goddess Artemis or the Lydian lion. These coins were minted from the 6th century BC to the 1st century AD and show the continued presence of the bee in the culture of Ephesus.
Hire Ephesus Tour Guide
Ephesus Museum offers a great collection of coins from whole excavations of Ephesus Ancient City. Contact me to learn more on Ephesian coins and to book a professional tour guide for Ephesus, Turkey. See you soon, Hasan Gülday.
