Rare Roman-era artifact found during Ephesus excavations

Excavation and restoration works at Ephesus, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, continue uninterrupted throughout the year as part of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s “Heritage for the Future: Eternal Ephesus” Project.

Work along the approximately 570-meter-long Harbour Street and at the Harbour Baths is concentrated on the oval hall, courtyard, toilets, and pool areas. During these excavations, the archaeological team uncovered an incense burner decorated with a depiction of Serapis, CE Report quotes Anadolu Agency.

The project coordinator, Prof. Dr. Serdar Aybek of Dokuz Eylül University’s Department of Archaeology, told Anadolu Agency that work at Ephesus under the project has been ongoing continuously since 2023.

Aybek said the Harbour Baths lie along the route leading to the city’s large harbor and that the aim is to fully reveal this monumental structure. One of the largest Roman-period buildings in Anatolia, the Harbour Baths cover an area of about 70,000 square meters. Excavations there frequently uncover marble decorative fragments, bronze statues, and architectural elements from the period.

Incense burner depicting serapis

Aybek explained that the incense burner discovered during the excavations is made of terracotta and features a relief of the Egyptian god Serapis.

He stressed the object’s special importance due to the Serapis figure:

“Serapis is a very important figure for Ephesus. One of the most significant and largest structures of the ancient world, the Temple of Serapis, is also located here. From the 2nd century AD onward, we encounter inscriptions, graffiti, and artifacts related to Serapis throughout the ancient city. The object we found is a terracotta incense burner with a chamber, and on its front is a relief of Serapis. The figure is highly characteristic, clearly depicting a famous ancient statue believed to have been made by the renowned sculptor Bryaxis. It is essentially a dressed bust of Serapis, with a spool-shaped base beneath it. His distinctive facial features — thick hair, a full beard, and his tall headdress — make identification immediate. It precisely echoes that well-known statue from antiquity.”

Aybek added that an inscription on the back of the incense burner makes the find even more significant. Thanks to the inscription, the artifact could be matched with a similar piece previously discovered in the Terrace Houses, indicating either the existence of a workshop in Ephesus producing this type of object or a regular trade in such goods.

The incense burner will be added to the Ephesus Museum collection. Aybek noted that finding identical artifacts from different years and the same workshops highlights how rich Ephesus was both commercially and religiously. He added that one of the project’s goals is to enrich the outstanding collection of the Ephesus Museum and contribute new artifacts to Turkey’s cultural heritage, especially that of Ephesus.

The Egyptian god Serapis is typically depicted in antiquity as a bearded deity wearing a headdress. During the Roman period, the cult of Serapis spread beyond Egypt, and temples dedicated to him were built in many regions. The Temple of Serapis in Ephesus is thought to have been constructed in the 2nd century AD by Egyptian merchants.