Temple of Artemis

The Temple of Artemis or Artemision was a Greek temple dedicated to the goddess Artemis, who was also known to the Romans as Diana. It stood in Ephesus, a place near today’s Selçuk in Turkey. This amazing building was one of the famous Seven Wonders of the World.

The first temple was built a long time ago, but it was destroyed by a flood. Later, around 550 BCE, a new, bigger temple was built. This new temple was designed by a clever architect named Chersiphron and paid for by a rich king called Croesus from Lydia.

Sadly, this beautiful temple did not last forever. In 356 BCE, it was burned down by a man named Herostratus. Even after this, the people of Ephesus built the temple again, but it was finally destroyed in 401 CE. Today, only some old pieces and the base of the temple can still be seen. The temple was very important to the people of Ephesus, and the goddess Artemis was special to them, protecting the city and having unique treasures connected to her.

Location and history

The Temple of Artemis was located near the ancient city of Ephesus, about 75 kilometres south from the modern port city of İzmir, in Turkey. Today, the site is on the edge of the modern town of Selçuk.

The sacred site was older than the temple itself. Some ancient writers believed it was even older than a famous shrine of Apollo at Didyma. Before World War I, excavations showed that people lived there as early as the Bronze Age. A simple temple was built there in the 8th century BCE. In the 7th century BCE, a flood destroyed that temple, but people kept using the same spot for their sacred ceremonies.

Second phase

The new temple was built with support from Croesus, the ruler of Lydia. It was designed by the architects Chersiphron and his son Metagenes starting around 550 BCE. This temple was made of marble and measured 115 meters long and 46 meters wide. It had tall columns arranged in double rows, creating a wide path around the inner room that held a special statue of the goddess Artemis.

The temple attracted many visitors, including merchants, kings, and tourists. People showed their respect to Artemis by leaving gifts like jewelry. The temple also provided safety for those trying to escape trouble, a tradition that goes back to stories about the Amazons.

In 356 BCE, the temple was destroyed by a fire. Some believe a man named Herostratus set the fire to become famous, though this is debated by historians. The fire happened on the same day Alexander the Great was born.

Third phase

Alexander the Great offered to pay for rebuilding the temple, but the people of Ephesus politely refused, saying it wasn’t right for one god to build a temple for another. After Alexander died, they began rebuilding it themselves in 323 BCE. This new temple was much bigger than the old one, measuring 137 meters long, 69 meters wide, and 18 meters high, with over 127 columns.

The temple was admired for its beautiful sculptures and artwork. Writers from long ago talked about statues and paintings inside, made by famous artists. Even hundreds of years later, people still remembered this amazing building. Sadly, the temple faced difficult times. Some stories say that in 268 CE, a group called the Goths attacked the area and damaged the temple, though it’s not clear how badly it was hurt. Over time, as more people followed Christianity, the temple was closed down and its stones were used in other buildings.

Rediscovery of the temple

The place where the temple stood was found again in 1869 after a search lasting six years. A group led by John Turtle Wood and supported by the British Museum did this work. They kept searching until 1874. During this time, many special items were found, including carved columns showing different important women from stories, like Artemis. More pieces of carvings were found later between 1904 and 1906. These pieces, from when the temple was built again in the 4th century and from an older temple, are now shown in a special room at the British Museum. The museum also has some very old coins, maybe the oldest group of coins in the world, from 600 BCE, that were hidden under the old temple.

Today, where the temple once stood just outside Selçuk, you can see one column made from pieces found there.

Cult and influence

The Temple of Artemis was very important to the people of Ephesus. They believed it showed the power of the goddess Artemis Ephesia, who was special to them. Many people visited Ephesus in March and May for big celebrations honoring Artemis. The temple had priests, and women called Melissonomoi helped serve the goddess.

Artemis had many temples, but the one in Ephesus was unique. The people there were proud of it and did not like others claiming to protect Artemis. Even when different rulers controlled the area, the festivals and games in Artemis's honor continued. These events were important for the whole Greek world and helped bring people together, including young men and women looking to find partners. The festivals included games, contests, and performances, and they were very popular.

Ephesian Artemis

The Ephesian Artemis was a special version of the goddess Artemis worshipped in the city of Ephesus. Unlike the typical Greek image of Artemis as a huntress, the Ephesian version had a very different look. Ancient writers described an early wooden statue covered in gold and silver. Later statues made of bronze have survived and show the goddess with a pillar-like shape for her body, with her feet showing.

The upper part of these statues often had oval shapes, which some people in the past thought looked like many breasts. However, modern scholars believe these shapes were likely decorations, perhaps eggs, or special items hung on the original wooden statue. On coins, the goddess is shown with a crown shaped like city walls and sometimes holding a staff with snakes.

Over time, both Greeks and Romans connected this goddess with their own deities, including Artemis and Apollo. Even after Christianity spread, some people still remembered the old goddess, though Christian writings often spoke against her worship.

Panorama

A 360 degree panoramic view shows the place where the temple once stood. The temple was an important building in ancient Greece, dedicated to the goddess Artemis.