The Miletus Museum (Milet Müzesi) is located in close proximity to the archaeological site of the ancient city, in the modern village of Balat. This compact yet fascinating museum houses artifacts discovered during excavations in Miletus and its surroundings. Visitors can also see maps illustrating the silting of the Latmian Gulf, which led to the decline of this once-prosperous ancient port city.
Opened in 1973, the Miletus Museum is a small building with several halls displaying artifacts from the Archaic period (7th–6th centuries BC) to the Byzantine era (6th–13th centuries AD).
Main Exhibits of the Miletus Museum
1. Sculptures and Reliefs
• Statue of Apollo Delphinios: A marble figure of the patron god of Miletus, found in the Delphinion sanctuary. Dated to the Hellenistic period (3rd–2nd centuries BC).
• Theater reliefs: Stone slabs depicting theatrical masks and mythological scenes that once decorated the ancient theater of Miletus (2nd century AD).
• Roman imperial portraits: Including busts of Trajan and Hadrian, discovered in the city`s agora (market square).
2. Pottery and Household Items
• Black-figure and red-figure vases (6th–4th centuries BC), found in residential areas and necropolises of Miletus.
• Terracotta lamps and figurines used in domestic worship and funerary rites.
3. Inscriptions and Epigraphy
• City council decrees: Stone steles with texts of laws and honorary inscriptions for citizens (Hellenistic and Roman periods).
• Christian tombstones (4th–6th centuries AD) featuring crosses and Greek epitaphs, found in Byzantine churches.
4. Architectural Fragments
• Column capitals from the Nymphaeum (monumental fountain).
• Mosaic floors from Roman-era villas.
5. Coins and Jewelry
• Silver coins of Miletus featuring a lion (Archaic period).
• Gold jewelry from female burials.
One of the most fascinating exhibits in the museum is the collection of historical maps, which vividly illustrate how Miletus changed over the centuries. A dedicated hall displays:
1. Map of Ancient Miletus in Its Prime (5th–2nd centuries BC). This reconstruction shows the city at its peak. Hippodamian grid plan: Famous for its straight streets intersecting at right angles.
2. Map of the Silting of the Latmian Gulf. A dynamic map demonstrates the gradual silting process:
• Archaic period (7th–6th centuries BC): The city had direct access to the open sea, with deep harbors.
• Hellenistic era (3rd–1st centuries BC): Initial sand deposition, early signs of silting.
• Roman period (1st–4th centuries AD): Harbors gradually shallowed, trade declined.
• Byzantine era (5th–13th centuries AD): The gulf was nearly completely filled by alluvial deposits from the Meander River, depriving the city of its maritime significance.
These maps help visitors understand the primary reason for Miletus` downfall—the loss of its harbors due to geological processes rendered the once-great port city obsolete. The last inhabitants abandoned it in the 15th century, when the remnants of the bay disappeared entirely.
The museum`s cartographic displays are not merely diagrams but a visual chronicle of an ecological disaster that doomed one of antiquity`s most prosperous cities. They perfectly complement the archaeological finds, allowing visitors to trace Miletus` tragic decline from a maritime power to abandoned ruins.
