History: Wonders of the Ancient World: The Secret of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

Here is a detailed, structured overview of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus (also known as the Artemision or Temple of Diana), based on the historical documentation.

Overview

Located near the ancient city of Ephesus (in modern-day Selçuk, Turkey), the Temple of Artemis was a monumental Greek temple dedicated to a unique, localized version of the goddess Artemis (equated to Diana in Roman culture). It was celebrated across the Mediterranean world for its vast dimensions, rich artistic decorations, and status as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Key Historical Phases

1. Early Origins & First Phase (8th–7th Century BCE)

   • Sacred usage of the site dates back to the Bronze Age.

   • The earliest peripteral temple structure built on the site was destroyed by a major flood in the 7th century BCE.

   • The famous Artemision Deposit excavated from this era yielded over 1,000 artifacts, including some of the earliest known inscribed electrum coins.

2. The Second Temple & Herostratus (c. 550 BCE – 356 BCE)

   • Designed by Cretan architect Chersiphron and his son Metagenes, and partially funded by King Croesus of Lydia, this was the first Greek temple constructed primarily of marble.

   • It featured 36 relief-carved columns and measured roughly 115 meters long by 46 meters wide.

   • Destruction: In 356 BCE, the temple was set on fire in a famous act of arson by Herostratus, who sought eternal fame regardless of the crime. According to ancient tradition, the fire occurred on the same night Alexander the Great was born.

3. The Third Temple & Rebuilding (323 BCE – Late Antiquity)

   • Rebuilt at the expense of the Ephesians after Alexander the Great's death, the final version was even larger (137m long, 69m wide, and 18m high with over 127 columns).

   • It housed artworks by renowned ancient Greek sculptors such as Polyclitus, Pheidias, Scopas, and Cresilas.

   • This version survived for centuries and is referenced in the New Testament (Acts of the Apostles) during Paul’s mission to Ephesus.

Decline & Current Status

• In 268 AD, the temple suffered severe damage during a raid by the Goths.

• By the 5th century CE, as the Roman Empire converted to Christianity, the temple was officially closed and dismantled. Its masonry was reused in local construction projects across the region.

• Today, only a single reconstructed column and foundational fragments remain at the archaeological site near Selçuk, Turkey.