Press Release
Ephesos is now a World Cultural Heritage Site
The UNESCO Commission accepts Ephesos into the list of World Cultural Heritage
sites
The UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Committee currently meeting in Bonn has resolved to include Ephesos
(western Turkey) in the list of World Cultural Heritage sites. The ancient city, which has been excavated under
Austrian directorship for 120 years, looks back upon a history of 9,000 years. Ephesos was the capital city of the
Roman province of Asia, was the home of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and developed into an
important pilgrimage site during the Christian era. Its most well-known structures include the Temple of Artemis,
the Library of Celsus, the Terrace Slope Houses, the Church of St. Mary, and the Basilica of St. John.
“UNESCO has recognised the unique significance of Ephesos by including it in the list of World Cultural Heritage
sites. The Austrian Archaeological Institute (ÖAI), which has directed the excavations at Ephesos for 120 years, is
extremely pleased about this distinction. We congratulate the Republic of Turkey and the municipality of Selçuk
on this great success,” says Sabine Ladstätter, Director of the Austrian Archaeological Institute and Director of
Excavations at Ephesos.
The outstanding significance of Ephesos
With Ephesos, an archaeological site has been selected which played a crucial role in all historical periods – from
Neolithic times up until the Middle Ages. Due to its geographic location, the harbour city was the centre of trade
and communication between the Aegean region and the Anatolian plateau. In addition, Ephesos was a religious
centre of supra-regional importance. The cult of the goddess Artemis extends here at least as far back as the
early first millennium B.C. The marble temple erected in her honour in the 4th century B.C. was the largest in the
Greek realm and counted amongst the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In the Christian period, the basilica
erected above the grave of the Apostle John developed into a major pilgrimage site. Even today the ruins of
Ephesos are a centre of attraction for over two million visitors annually. Since Ephesos was not subsequently built
over, the ruined city conveys the flair of an ancient metropolis to the modern sightseer, thanks also to the
numerous re-erected structures.
What does the designation of World Cultural Heritage site mean for the excavations at Ephesos?
“Today’s society has agreed that historical heritage, which connects humanity and endows identity, should be
especially protected and its cultural diversity should be preserved. The inclusion of Ephesos in the list of World
Cultural Heritage sites is therefore not only a distinction, but also at the same time an obligation to treat this
valuable and unique cultural property with respect,” says Ladstätter. With the accession to the convention, the
signatories commit themselves to finance independently the measures for protection and preservation of the
World Cultural Sites in their territory. In order to determine possible alterations to the state of preservation, regular
reviews by UNESCO take place. The UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Centre must be informed about any
exceptional circumstances and work which could result in a threat to the World Cultural Heritage sites.
(Vienna, July 5, 2015)
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Press Release
Information concerning UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites
1,007 monuments in 161 countries are listed as World Cultural Heritage sites by UNESCO. Of these, 779 are
cultural monuments and 197 are natural monuments; a further 31 are included as both cultural- and naturalheritage sites. UNESCO bestows the title “World Cultural Heritage” (world cultural heritage and world natural
heritage) on sites which are of worldwide significance due to their unique status, authenticity and integrity and
which have been proposed for the title by the countries in which they lie. The title is based on the World Cultural
Heritage Convention of 1972, which was ratified by 190 countries and regions.
In Turkey there are already 13 World Cultural Heritage sites, amongst them the well-known archaeological sites of
Pergamon, Troy, Hierapolis-Pamukkale and Hattuscha.
An initial application for the inclusion of Ephesos in the list of World Cultural Heritage sites occurred already in
1994, but it was rejected in 2000. Since then, Ephesos has been on the list of proposals of UNESCO. This list of
proposals comprises those sites which the respective state authorities consider to be eligible to be accepted into
the list of World Cultural Heritage sites.
Pictures
Fig. 1: Celsus Library and Gate of Mazaeus and Mithridates (Credit: © ÖAI / Niki Gail)
Fig. 2: View from the Theatre to the illuminated Harbour Street towards the Harbour (Credit: © ÖAI / Niki Gail)
Fig. 3: Temple of Hadrian along Curetes Street (Credit: © ÖAI / Niki Gail)
Fig. 4: View from the Harbour towards the centre of the antique city of Ephesos (Credit: © ÖAI / Niki Gail)
Contact
Austrian Archaeological Institute, Head Office Vienna
Franz Klein Gasse 1, 1190 Vienna
www.oeai.at
Sabine Ladstätter, Director
Tel.:
0043 (0)664 886 11944
Email: sabine.ladstaetter@oeai.at
Link
UNESCO World Heritage Centre http://whc.unesco.org/en/35/
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