The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus – a legendary Wonder of the Ancient World where the gold of Lydian kings mingled with the madness of Herostratus. Once, the greatest temple of antiquity stood here – a marble giant with 127 columns that outshone all Greek sanctuaries in beauty. Its walls witnessed King Croesus and Alexander the Great, while its altars overflowed with offerings from across the Mediterranean.
Today, only a solitary column remains of its former splendor, yet its shadow still guards secrets: how the temple was built on marshland, why it was called the "bank of the ancient world," and why Christians repurposed its marble into church slabs.
History of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus: Three Temples on One Site
1. The Earliest Shrine (8th century BC)
The first modest temple was built on marshy ground (for earthquake protection) and dedicated to a local fertility goddess, later identified with the Greek Artemis.
2. Croesus’ Grand Project (550 BC)
The Lydian king Croesus (the one "rich as Croesus") financed the construction of the marble Temple of Artemis under architect Chersiphron.
• Dimensions: 105 × 55 m (twice the size of the Parthenon!).
• Columns: 127 eighteen-meter columns with reliefs by sculptor Phidias.
• Statue of Artemis: Wooden, adorned with gold and ivory.
3. The Rebuilt Temple After the Fire (356 BC)
The new Temple of Artemis was even more magnificent, with mosaic floors and silver altars. The original temple was burned by Herostratus, who sought fame. He was an ordinary Ephesian, unremarkable before his crime. Ancient historians (including Strabo and Plutarch) describe him as an ambitious failure, obsessed with immortal glory.
In 356 BC, on the night of Alexander the Great’s birth, Herostratus set fire to the temple’s wooden structures. He was executed, and authorities banned mentioning his name under penalty of death. But the historian Theopompus defied the ban, preserving the arsonist’s name. His deed gave the world the term "Herostratic fame." Some scholars doubt whether Herostratus was real or an allegory of vanity.
Architectural Features of the Temple of Artemis: Why Was It a Wonder?
Gigantomania
• Twice the size of the Parthenon in Athens.
• Columns 18 m tall (like a 6-story building).
• Pediments adorned with Amazon sculptures (legendary founders of Ephesus).
Engineering Tricks
• Foundation of charcoal and wool (for earthquake resistance).
• Columns tapered upward, creating an illusion of greater height.
Treasury of Asia Minor. The temple held:
• Croesus’ offerings (gold ingots shaped like lions).
• Gifts from Alexander the Great (after conquering Persia).
The Temple’s Destruction: From Christianity to Quarry
• Gothic Raid (263 AD): Germanic tribes looted the temple, taking marble and gold.
• Ban on Paganism (391 AD): Emperor Theodosius I closed the temple and destroyed Artemis’ statue.
• 5th Century: The temple became a source of building materials. Byzantines took marble for churches, and Seljuk Turks used blocks for mosques. Today, only one column and marshland remain.
What Remains of the Temple of Artemis?
• Foundation (outlines of the sanctuary are visible). Even in ruins, the temple conveys the scale of ancient grandeur. Visit at sunset – shadows emphasize the contours of its ancient foundation, which stood for 1,200 years.
• Reconstructed Column (reassembled from fragments in the 1970s). Locals believe wishes made here come true.
• Herostratus’ Legacy: His name became synonymous with senseless vandalism.
• British Museum: Houses reliefs from the temple’s columns.
