| | | | The Efes museum curator Selahattin Erdemgil stated that 24 carat gold, ivory, bronze and ceramic Artifacts as sculptures of Artemis, jewelry, and pieces thought to have been used as magnifying glass were uncovered at the ruins of the Temple of Artemis.
The Artifacts date back to 1000 B.C. reflecting wonders of the Mycenean, Hellenistic and Archaic civilizations. “The Temple of Artemis faced pillory with the arrival of Christianity in the Ephesus region. This, coupled with earthquakes left the temple in ruins,” said Mr. Erdemgil.
British archeologists excavated at the Artemis temple ruins between 1863 - 1895, at which time, they took many priceless Artifacts back home to Britain. According to an arrangement in those days between the British and the Ottoman authorities, if two of one artifact was discovered, one would be given to the Ottomans; if there was only one found, the British would have the rights over it.
French archeologists who intervened also during this juncture, recommended to Ottoman authorities to set up a museum to display the finds of Artemis. The Ottomans, thus, decided to build a museum for all pieces of art, yet it was too late to save the vital pieces from Artemis for the British had already taken most of them.
All finds from this site, as of 1905, have been relocated to the İstanbul Archeological Museum.
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