The Lady of Ephesus is the goddess Artemis as the people of Ephesus worshiped her. Her statues look very different from the Greek Artemis: a tall crown, a heavy necklace and animals carved on her long skirt. The two famous ones stand in the Ephesus Museum in Selçuk.
Goddess Artemis was one of the twelve gods of the Greek pantheon, and she was worshiped all around the Greece and Anatolia. Artemis later became Diana in the Roman mythology. She gained many nicknames and titles. One of which was the Lady of Ephesus. One of the biggest temples of Artemis was in Ephesus. The Lady of Ephesus looked a bit different from Artemis representations in other cities. In their depictions, they depicted her fertility, abundance and being the protector of cities, nature and animals. The lady of Ephesus Artemis was decorated with multiple large beads on her neck.
Two Artemis statues were found during excavations in Ephesus in 1956. Archaeologists call one of these sculptures the “Beautiful Statue of Artemis” and the other the “Great Artemis Statue”. Both sculptures are exhibited in the Ephesus Archeological Museum today. The beautiful Artemis was carved in the Roman period and carries the traces of the east. There is a three-story tower above the head of the statue of Artemis. This symbolizes that he is the protector of the city. On the neck of the goddess is a large disk shaped like a full moon. The Crescent on her forehead emphasizes that she is the moon goddess like the Greek Artemis. There are 5 eagle-headed lions (griffons) on both sides of the neck of the beautiful Artemis statue. On his necklace, the sun-moon-planets cycle, of which she dominates. About 40 breast depictions in an orderly order draw attention. Recent studies show that these breasts refer to bull testicles. This depiction is a tribute to the blessing of the mother goddess and fertility. Animal depictions in rectangular plates catch the eye on the skirt. There are bulls, goats, lions, bees, griffons and sphinxes in each quadrant. This description expresses Artemis’ rule over nature and is completely unique to Artemis of Ephesus who is also known as the Lady of Ephesus.
The Image of Artemis That Fell from the Sky
The image of Artemis that fell from the sky was the old wooden statue in her temple, which the Ephesians believed had come down from Zeus himself. In Acts 19:35 the town clerk calms the angry crowd in the Great Theater and reminds them that their city keeps “the image which fell down from Jupiter”.
Not everybody told the same story. Some said statue was carved by Endoios, an early Greek sculptor, from ebony or from blackened vine wood. Already in Roman times people believed it was extremely old, and it was covered with gold and silver. The wooden statue itself is lost, and only its later copies tell us how she looked.
Artemis of Ephesus as Mother Nature
Centuries later the Lady of Ephesus started a second life in Europe. From the 16th century, artists saw in her many breasts the mother of all living things, and they used Artemis of Ephesus as the symbol of Mother Nature.
The best-known example is in the gardens of Villa d’Este in Tivoli, near Rome, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001. A statue of Mother Nature in the form of Artemis of Ephesus was set up there in 1569, and today she has her own fountain in the lower garden. Water pours from her breasts like milk, so she feeds the garden like Nature feeds the world.
Artemis of Ephesus Souvenirs
Today the Lady of Ephesus is one of the favorite souvenirs of Ephesus. You find her on the shops of Selçuk and Kuşadası as small statues of marble and ceramic, as magnets, plates and jewelry. The idea is very old. In Acts 19:24 a silversmith called Demetrius made silver shrines of Artemis, and his trade brought a good income to the craftsmen of the city.
People still buy her for the same blessings the pilgrims asked from her two thousand years ago: abundance, wealth and new life. If you wonder why the bee is everywhere on her and on the old coins of the city, have a look at my guide to the symbols of Ephesus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Lady of Ephesus the same as Our Lady of Ephesus?
No. Here the Lady of Ephesus is Artemis. Our Lady of Ephesus is the Virgin Mary, called Meryem Ana in Turkey. It is believed she spent her last years nearby Ephesus, at the House of the Virgin Mary.
Where can I see the Lady of Ephesus statue today?
In the Ephesus Museum in the center of Selçuk, which has a hall named after her. The Great Artemis and the Beautiful Artemis stand there. The museum is not inside the ruins, so plan it as separate stop.
How is the Lady of Ephesus different from the Greek Artemis?
Greek Artemis is the young huntress with a bow, twin sister of Apollo. It is believed the Greeks in Ephesus joined her with an older Anatolian mother goddess, so the Lady of Ephesus stands stiff, crowned and covered in ornaments.
Read More —> The Temple of Artemis in Ephesus
Read More —> Herostratus the Arsonist of Temple of Artemis
Read More —> Saint John the Evangelist at the Temple of Artemis
