Selçuk is the modern Turkish town nearest the ruins of Ephesus, home of the Temple of Artemis.
Ephesus was an ancient Greek city on the western coast of Anatolia, in present-day Türkiye. Its celebrated Temple of Artemis stood outside the city and was rebuilt several times. The final major temple was among the Seven Wonders and attracted visitors because of its immense scale, elaborate sculpture, and connection with Artemis, the city’s important goddess.
The archaeological site of Ephesus is now beside Selçuk, in İzmir Province. Selçuk is therefore the useful modern geographic reference for the ancient city and its sanctuary. It is distinct from Bodrum, which occupies the site of Halicarnassus and is associated with the Mausoleum.
Only foundations and fragments of the Temple of Artemis remain at the site. The nearby archaeological remains of Ephesus include the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre, and other monuments from later periods.