The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, also known as the Temple of Diana, is located near the Ancient City of Ephesus, on the edge of the modern town of Selcuk. The location is also known as where the second ancient city of Ephesus settlement is located. The Temple of Artemis is also one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Due to its historical importance, it became one of the most preferred sites for Private Ephesus Tours.
Table of contents
- Who Built and Designed the Temple of Artemis?
- The Temple of Artemis on the Map
- Who Burned the Temple of Artemis?
- Why is the Temple of Artemis a Wonder?
- 3D Reconstruction Vide
- Destruction and Rebirth of the Temple
- Alexander’s Offer and Ephesian Response
- Reconstruction of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
- Artemis of Ephesus in the Christian Records
- The Great Artemis of Ephesians
- Archaeological Rediscovery of the Temple of Artemis
- Information for Visitors
- Frequently Asked Questions
- You May Also Like
Who Built and Designed the Temple of Artemis?
The Temple of Artemis was designed and built around 550 BC, mostly of marble, sponsored by Croesus, the legendary king of Lydia. It was 46 m (151 ft) wide and 115 m (377 ft) long. Its columns were double rows and 13 m (40 ft) high, forming a wide ceremonial passage around the cult image of Artemis. The pillars with sculptured bases and the roof opened to the sky around a statue of Artemis in the cellar.
The Temple of Artemis on the Map
The Temple of Artemis, located in the center of Selcuk, is just a few kilometers away from other attractions in the area.
Who Burned the Temple of Artemis?
Herostratus’s Act of Arson
This magnificent structure could only stand for 200 years. In 356 BC, Herostratus, a Greek citizen, burned down the temple seeking fame. He set fire to the wooden roof beams of the temple, attempting to immortalize his name at any cost.
The Condemnation and Execution of Herostratus
Herostratus was executed and also condemned by forbidding the mention of his name under the penalty of death. Following the destruction, the authorities attempted to erase Herostratus’s name from history as punishment for his crime, highlighting the ancient struggle between fame and oblivion.
The Legacy of Herostratus in Literature
However, ancient writers such as Theopompus and Strabo mentioned his name, and finally, Sir Thomas Browne in his work Hydriotaphia stated as follows;
…..But the iniquity of oblivion blindly scattereth her poppy and deals with the memory of men without distinction to merit of perpetuity. Herostratus lives that burnt the Temple of Diana, he is almost lost that built it. Who knows whether the best of men be known? Or whether there be not more remarkable persons forgot than any that stand remembered in the known account of time?
The Notion of ‘Herostratic Fame’
Eventually, Herostratus’ name lived on in classical literature and in language; the term “Herostratic fame” refers to Herostratus and means “fame at any cost”.
Why is the Temple of Artemis a Wonder?
- Innovative Design: The amount of marble used and its dimensions were an extraordinary achievement for a temple of its period. The most famous structure, financed by the Lydian King Croesus around 550 BC, was a testament to the architectural progress whose design was pioneered by Chersiphron and Metagenes.
- Colossal Scale: Spanning 137 x 69 meters and consisting of 127 columns, each 18 meters high, the temple was one of the largest structures of that period, demonstrating the ability of ancient times to build on a large scale.
- Spiritual Center: The temple dedicated to Ephesian Artemis was a significant religious place. It marked Ephesus as an important spiritual destination, attracting believers from far and wide.
- Art Treasure: The temple of Artemis was not only an architectural wonder but also hosted unique artworks, including the statues of Artemis exhibited in the Ephesus Archaeological Museum in Ephesus.
3D Reconstruction Vide
o of the Temple of Artemis
Destruction and Rebirth of the Temple
The Fire and Alexander the Great’s Birth
According to tradition, the fire that destroyed the second temple was set on the day Alexander the Great was born, 21 July 356 BC. The historian Plutarch coincided with the temple’s burning with the birth of Alexander. According to Plutarch, Artemis was preoccupied with Alexander’s delivery that night, so she couldn’t protect her temple from destruction. This was interpreted as the extinction of the Persians.
Accordingly, 22 years later, Alexander the Great defeated the Persian army (the battle of Granicus in 334 BC). King Alexander liberated the Greek cities of Asia Minor and greeted them warmly in Ephesus.
Alexander’s Offer and Ephesian Response
Rebuilding Efforts and Alexander’s Involvement
Alexander the Great was aware of the rumors of Goddess Artemis overseeing the delivery of his birth and was not able to protect her temple. According to the legend, Alexander offered to cover the cost of rebuilding the destroyed temple with his name mentioned on the columns. However, the citizens of Ephesus did not want a mortal’s name written on their temple. But it would be inappropriate to say “no” to a king like Alexander in the face of such generosity. Eventually, Ephesians turned down King Alexander’s offer with a wise answer. They said;
“ lt was not fit for a God such as himself to build a temple for another God”. In the end, honored Alexander gave special privileges to the city of Ephesus.
Reconstruction of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
Ephesians started to rebuild the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus after Alexander’s death, in 323 BC, at their own expense and continued for many years. The last temple was larger than the second one; 69 m (225 ft) wide, 137 m (450 ft) long, and 18 m (60 ft) high, with 127 columns.
Antipater of Sidon puts the temple on one of the earliest known lists of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. He describes the Temple of Artemis in one of his poems as;
I have set eyes on the wall of lofty Babylon on which is a road for chariots, and the statue of Zeus, by the Alpheus, and the hanging gardens, and the Colleseus of the Sun, and the huge labour of the high pyramids, and the vast tomb of Mausolus; but when I saw the house of Artemis that mounted to the clouds, those other marvels lost their brilliancy, and I said, "Lo, apart from Olympus, the Sun never looked on aught so grand.
Artemis of Ephesus in the Christian Records
The third reconstruction by Ephesians survived for 600 years. It appeared multiple times in early Christian accounts of Ephesus. It is also known that the appearance of the Christian missionary caused fear in Ephesians for the temple’s dishonor.
The Acts of John in the 2nd century AD, including a tale of the temple’s destruction;
Conversion at the Temple of Artemis (ActsJohn 37–47)
Acts of John and Conversion at the Temple
During the celebration of the birth of Artemis, citizens of Ephesus intended to kill John because he wore black, rather than white. John threatened the mob to have his god kill them if their goddess could not make him die on the spot with her divine power.
The crowd witnessed the miracles of John at the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, begging John not to destroy them. Then John decided to use the power of God to break the altar of Artemis into many pieces, break the offerings and idols inside the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, and collapse part of the structure itself. Upon seeing this destruction, the people of Ephesus immediately notice the mistake of their faith and acknowledge the God of John as the only true god.
The Great Artemis of Ephesians
The Temple’s significance is highlighted in the New Testament, when St Paul was shouted down by the crowd, repeating, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians“. (Acts 19:34).
Saint Paul’s Missionary Work
During the missionary work of Saint Paul in Ephesus, the people of Ephesus were worried that the rise of the Christian faith would overtake the fame of the Goddess Artemis. They started a riot in the year A.D 56, under the leadership of Demetrius, the silversmith, who made a living by selling silver statues of the Mother Goddess Artemis. Demetrius and others collected thousands together in the Grand Ephesus Amphitheater. The crowd was shouting “The Great Artemis of Ephesians“.
Archaeological Rediscovery of the Temple of Artemis
John Turtle Wood’s Excavations
John Turtle Wood was an English architect and engineer who eventually became an archaeologist because of his interest in the remains of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus.
John Turtle Wood was commissioned to design railway stations between the Izmir and Aydin provinces of Turkey. But he was more interested in the temple of Artemis on account of its mention in the New Testament. In 1863, he relinquished his railway station construction and began the search for the support of the British Museum. The British Museum granted permission to excavate the site and allocated a budget for his research on condition that he bring the finds to the museum.
On 31 December 1869, by following the Greek inscription, giving clues about the location, he discovered the temple buried beneath 20 feet of sand. The temple was totally destroyed, and nothing more than wreckage. Nevertheless, John Turtle Wood managed to recover several sculptured pieces and architectural items to be sent to the British Museum.
Information for Visitors
What’s the Entrance Fee for the Temple of Artemis?
The Temple of Artemis is free of charge. Please click the link below to display the current entrance fees for the attractions around the Temple of Artemis.
https://www.bestephesustours.com/ephesus-entrance-fees.html
What’s the Opening Hour for the Temple of Artemis?
The Temple of Artemis is open to visitors every day between 08:00 and 19:00, including weekends. Please click the link below to display the current opening hours for the attractions around the Temple of Artemis.
https://www.bestephesustours.com/ephesus-opening-hours.html
Where are the Rest of the Ruins of the Temple of Artemis?
The finds from the Temple of Artemis were mostly transported to England during the excavations of the temple led by John Turtle. It can be seen in the British Museum today. In addition, marbles from the Temple of Artemis were used in the construction of the Basilica of St. John in Ephesus, which was built in the sixth century after the adoption of Christianity in Rome.
Where is the Temple of Artemis?
The Temple of Artemis, also known as Artemision, is located in the center of today’s Ephesus (modern name Selcuk) in Izmir-Turkey. The Temple of Artemis is 3 km away from the ancient city of Ephesus and 1 km away from the Ephesus Archaeological Museum.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Temple of Artemis was designed and built around 550 BC, largely of marble, sponsored by Croesus, the legendary king of Lydia. It was 46 m (151 ft) wide and 115 m (377 ft) long. Its columns were double rows and 13 m (40 ft) high, forming a wide ceremonial passage around the cult image of Artemis. The pillars with sculptured bases and the roof opened to the sky around a statue of Artemis in the cella.
This magnificent structure could only stand for 200 years. In 356 BC, the temple was burned down by Herostratus, who was a Greek citizen seeking notoriety. He set fire to the wooden roof beams of the temple, attempting to immortalize his name at any cost. Herostratus was executed and also condemned by forbidding the mention of his name under the penalty of death. However, ancient writers such as Theopompus and Strabo mentioned his name, and finally, Sir Thomas Browne in his work Hydropathia stated as follows;
…..But the iniquity of oblivion blindly scattereth her poppy and deals with the memory of men without distinction to merit of perpetuity. […] Herostratus lives who burnt the Temple of Diana, he is almost lost; that built it […] Who knows whether the best of men be known? Or whether there be not more remarkable persons forgotten than any that stand remembered in the known account of time?
Eventually, Herostratus’ name lived on in classical literature and in language; the term “Herostratic fame” refers to Herostratus and means “fame at any cost”.
The project funded by Croesus took 10 years to complete. It was included on an early list of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World by Herodotus in the 5th century BC.
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If you want to explore the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus on-site with us, you can reach us at the links below.