Ephesos Museum Vienna
Ephesos Museum
Hofburg, Heldenplatz, 1010 Wien
Entrance: House of Austrian History
Opening Hours
Tue to Sun, 10 am – 6 pm
Thu, 10 am – 9 pm
The Ephesos Museum in Vienna exists because of Austria's long history of archaeological excavations in Ephesos, an ancient Greek and Roman city in present-day Turkey. Since the late 19th century, Austrian archaeologists have been actively involved in uncovering the ruins of Ephesos, leading to significant finds that were brought to Vienna under agreements with the Ottoman authorities at the time.
What’s in the Ephesos Museum?
The museum, located in the Neue Burg wing of the Hofburg Palace, houses an impressive collection of artifacts from Ephesos, including:
Monumental sculptures from the Artemision, the famous Temple of Artemis (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World).
Architectural fragments from significant buildings such as the Parthian Monument and the Fountain of Trajan.
Reliefs, inscriptions, and everyday objects from the city’s rich Greek, Roman, and Byzantine past.
The museum in Vienna houses some of the most remarkable finds from the Austrian excavations of **Ephesos**, one of the great ancient cities of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Some of the **must-see highlights** include:
Parthian Monument
A **large-scale relief frieze** from the 2nd century AD, celebrating victories of the Roman emperor **Lucius Verus** over the Parthians. This monument originally adorned a significant building in Ephesos and is one of the museum’s centerpiece exhibits.
Amazon Statue from the Artemision
A beautifully sculpted Amazon warrior, likely from the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It showcases the high artistic quality of Ephesos during the Hellenistic and Roman periods.
Bronze Athlete Statue
A stunningly preserved bronze statue of an athlete, rare because most ancient bronzes were melted down over time. This statue reflects the Greek emphasis on the idealized human form.
Fragments from the Temple of Artemis
Although only a few pieces remain in Vienna, these marble fragments give a sense of the massive scale and artistic grandeur of the Artemision, one of antiquity’s most revered sanctuaries.
The Cult Statue of Artemis of Ephesos (Replica)
A copy of the famous multi-breasted Artemis statue, symbolizing fertility and prosperity, is displayed in the museum. The original remains in Turkey, but the Vienna version provides insight into the religious significance of the goddess in Ephesos.
Architectural Elements from the Fountain of Trajan
Decorative pieces from this 2nd-century AD fountain dedicated to the Roman Emperor Trajan offer a glimpse into the city's urban design and infrastructure.
These highlights make the Ephesos Museum a treasure trove of ancient art, offering a fascinating link between Vienna and one of the most important cities of antiquity.
