Temple of Artemis :: Seven Wonders of the World
When Was the Temple of Artemis Built?
The Temple of Artemis was built around 550 BC.
Where is the Temple of Artemis Located?
The ancient Greek city of Ephesus on the west coast of what is now Turkey.
What is the History of the Temple of Artemis?
The Temple of Artemis was built in the great city of Ephesus. The Ephesus Goddess Artemis (also called Diana) is not the same Artemis the Greeks worshipped. The Greek Artemis is the goddess of the hunt while the Ephesus Artemis is a goddess of fertility. The Temple of Artemis was built by some of the best architects of that time. On July 21, 356 BC (the same night Alexander the Great was born,) a man named Herostratus wanted his name to go down in history so he burnt the temple down. No expense was spared in the reconstruction of the temple. The temple was eventually destroyed by the Goths in 262 AD. The city of Ephesus was deserted many years later. In the late 1900s, the remains of the temple were dug up from what is now a swamp. A few columns still remain and the British Museum in London has sculptures from the Temple of Artemis.
What Does the Temple of Artemis Look Like?
Many gods had temples built for them so what's so special about the Temple of Artemis? It was made completely of marble except for a tile-covered wooden roof. The marble made it one of the seven wonders of the world. There were approximately 127 columns aligned over the entire platform area except for in the center. The exact number of columns isn't known and it's also assumed that there was a statue of Artemis in the middle. The ancient wonder had many works of art by the most talented artists, including bronze statues of Amazons. At one time, the temple was a marketplace (souvenir shops were popular) as well as a religious structure. If you don't mind muddy feet, you can visit the ruins of the Temple of Artemis.
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