The Temple of Artemis At Ephesus
By Elizabeth C.
5000 years ago, in a harbor on the Kucuk Menderes RiveR, There was a town named Ephesus. It was named after the goddess Ephesia, or Artemis, goddess of hunting, childbirth, and wild animals. Ephesus was located in present day Turkey in the town of Selcuk.
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was a magnificent piece of architecture. It was made of white marble.The form of the temple was rectangular.Outside of the temple there was a beautiful courtyard.Marble steps surrounded the temple and it was approximately 260 feet by 430 feet in plan.The columns were 60 feet high with Ionic capitals and carved circular sides.There were 127 columns total. They were placed all over the platform area of the temple except for the central cella or the house of the goddess.
The interior was just as magnificently decorated as the exterior. It housed many art pieces including four ancient stone statues of Amazons created by the best sculptors of time.
When Saint Louis visited the city, the temple was adorned with golden pillars, silver statuettes, and was decorated with paintings. There is no evidence that a statue of Artemis was placed in the center of the temple. But many people believe there was.
At around the seventh century BC Lydia attacked the Ionians and took over Ephesus. They marked Democratic rule. Then they rebuilt the temple and it became one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
The Persians attacked it around 546 BC. They introduced oriental style. At this time Artemis acquired a Persian mouth, and her temple was rebuilt to become even more Elaborate.
TIMELINE
464 BC Greek cities join the Delian Confederacy (Ephesus included).Athens ruled the Delian Confederacy.
407 BC The Delian Confederacy made war with the Spartans and Persians and the Delian Confederacy was defeated.
356 BC Herostratus burned down the temple and gained fame.He then rebuilt the temple and made it even more magnificent.Legend says that on the day of the fire Artemis left to help with the delivery of Alexander the Great.
294 - 281 BC Lysimachos rules Ephesus.
133 BC Romans rule Ephesus.
292 AD An earthquake destroys much of the temple at Ephesus.
391 AD Christianity is introduced to Ephesus.People stopped believing in Artemis, and the belief in the Mother of God was adapted.
Home
