The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

The Temple of Artemis Informations

The Temple of Artemis was visited by kings, artists, merchants and tourists for centuries and was used as a religious place where the goddess offered their faith. The Temple of Artemis, which was burned by a person named Herostratus in 356 BC, was restored after 200 years.

When Christianity began to spread by St. Paul in Ephesus, the belief in the Temple of Artemis began to weaken. The Temple of Artemis was rebuilt by the Goths in 362, but the Ephesians rebuilt the temple. The Temple of Artemis was completely destroyed by St. John Chrysostom in Ephesus in the 4th century since Christianity was now fully accepted.

All information about the temple is based on what Plynus (historian) tells us. Plynus stated that the temple was 55 meters wide and 115 meters long and that most of it was made of marble. In the construction of the temple, 127 columns, each 18 meters high, were used. Filon (the Byzantine historian), the grave of the Mausoleum and Babylonian Vine Garden has seen the magnificent workmanship, but the Temple of Artemis, rising up to the heavens in Ephesus, said they left behind. In the first years of his life, there were many artworks inside the temple. The sculptures made by famous Greek sculptors were equipped with columns adorned with gold and silver. According to the old sources, the artists of that period were trying to make the most beautiful statue to compete with each other. A large part of these statues were the statues of Amazons known as the founders of the city of Ephesus.