Crafts in Ephesus

Craftsmanship in ancient Ephesus was highly developed, showcasing expertise in areas such as ceramics, metalwork, sculpture, and mosaic making. These crafts held a significant place in the city’s economy and daily life. 

Ceramic Masters

The ceramic masters of Ephesus had become skilled at producing jugs, bowls, oil lamps, and various decorative items thanks to the city’s fertile clay. Potters cleaned and shaped the clay soil and then turned it into a vessel form on a wheel (bench), and afterwards, baked them in kilns. Excavations have uncovered ancient kiln remnants indicating the existence of ceramic production since the earliest periods of the city. The surfaces of products were sometimes decorated using painting, engraving, or stamping techniques; besides everyday items, objects like decorative figurines were also produced. Notably, during the Hellenistic period, Ephesus-type lamps, mass-produced in molds from gray-colored clay, were widely exported. In fact, ceramic vessels and glass items produced in Ephesus became trade goods throughout the entire empire due to their quality.

Stone Masters and Sculptors

The fame of Ephesus stemmed from the intricacy of the stone works adorning the city. Sculptors and stone masters crafted statues, reliefs, and architectural ornaments related to deities, emperors, and prominent figures by processing marble and limestone blocks obtained from quarries. The monumental structures of the city such as temples, theaters, and libraries, along with opulent residences, were renowned for the statues and detailed stone decorations produced by these masters. Gravestone masters also meticulously shaped monuments like steles and sarcophagi erected in necropolises, inscribing scenes from daily life or the deceased’s portrait using relief techniques and records. Stone workshops typically operated in areas with intense construction activities; for example, many sculptors were involved in the construction of the Temple of Artemis and public buildings. The works of these artisans uniquely contributed to Ephesus's cultural heritage by adorning its public spaces.

Glass Masters

Glass masters in ancient Ephesus produced small-scale yet valuable items especially during the Roman Imperial period. In the glass workshops of the city, sand and other materials were melted in high-temperature kilns (~900-1000°C), the molten glass was gathered with long iron rods, then blown or poured into molds for shaping. Through this, varieties of perfume bottles (unguentarium), beads (particularly evil-eye beads), and glass bowls were produced. The numerous beads found in Ephesus are part of the glass bead tradition that continued in Anatolia since prehistoric times. Small containers and ornamental objects manufactured by glass masters were used in daily life by the locals and some special Ephesus glass items were in demand in other cities of the empire. The transparency and colorful varieties of glass items held an important place in the rich perfume and cosmetic culture of the time.

Weavers and Tailors

In Ephesus, weaving existed both as a domestic craft and as a commercial trade. Weavers would weave fabric on looms using yarn spun from sheep’s wool or linen fibers. Ancient sources mention that Ephesus and its surroundings were renowned for their quality textile products. A text tells how the woven items produced in the neighboring city of Hierapolis were transported to Mediterranean countries through the port of Ephesus. On the looms of Ephesus' weavers, loom weights made of terracotta were used to keep the warp threads taut. Archaeological excavations in the city, particularly in the Terrace Houses, have uncovered numerous spinning whorls and loom weights, indicating that weaving was a widespread domestic pursuit. Women usually produced fabric on upright standing looms in a room of the house, while tailors measured and fashioned these fabrics into garments. Traditional attire such as peplos and himation were cut and sewn to fit different body types with the skill of the masters; imported yarns like silk and shiny brocade weaves were even used for luxurious cuts. Ephesus textiles, colored with natural dyes and adorned with various motifs, set fashion trends of the time. Weaving and tailoring formed an important part of the Ephesus economy by meeting the city’s own needs as well as providing export goods.