Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, also Artemision, AltGr. ὁ ναὸς τῆς Ἀρτέμιδος Ἐφεσίης, ὁ ἐν Ἐφέσῳ ναὸς τῆς Ἀρτέμιδος, τὸ Ἀρτεμίσιον Ἐφέσιον (ho naos tes Artemidos Ephesians, ho naos tes en Ephéô Artemidos tò Artemísion Ephésion), Latin Templum Diana Ephesians (s) ae or Artemisium Ephesians (s) ) was the largest temple of antiquity and is one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. The Greek city of Ephesus (whose ruins are seen today in Turkey in Selcuk near Izmir) was famous in antiquity for its wealth. She was later - as the capital of the Roman province of Asia - one of the greatest cities of antiquity.

Construction History
As part of the Austrian excavations since 1895 several versions of the Artemis temple have been demonstrated. The first simple temple at that place (the Temple "A" and "B") originated in the 8th Century BC z.T. than wood structures. Under the tyrant Pythagoras in the 7th Century BC, the temple "C" set, which was not destroyed before completion due to flooding.

The archaic temple of Artemis "D" began around 580 BC. Architects were Chersiphron of Knossos (Χερσίφρων ὁ Κνώσσιος) and his son Metagenes (Μεταγένης ὁ Κνώσσιος). The construction of this temple, and for those of the Lydian King Croesus donated some of the columns, which lasted 120 years with unusually long. The construction was extremely difficult because the building was built on a swamp. Erdverfärbungen, which could be observed in Tiefgraben to confirm the messages that have been introduced in the preparation of the site for the temple and charcoal leather covers to protect the marshy subsoil. In fact, to have been the architect Theodoros of Samos, who had already collaborated on Rhoikos-temple in Samos is involved in the foundation works. The archaic temple "D" consisted of 106 marble Ionic columns of about 19 m height. They stood on an area of 111.7 mx 57.3 m and were exceptionally heavy crossbeam. Some of the columns in the entrance were decorated with reliefs below. The two-meter high statue of Artemis in the cella was made of Weinrebholz and covered with gold and silver. The roof was made of cedar. Heraclitus, dedicated his book on the logos on the altar in the Temple of Artemis.

The temple fell on 21 July 356 BC by Herostratos an arson victim. He committed the act of egotism - his plan, by the burning of the wonder of the world famous, and thus become immortal, he has succeeded. According to legend, the night of the fire, Alexander the Great, who later also made very substantial financial assistance for the reconstruction of the temple have been born, so Artemis, which oversaw the birth in Pella, could not protect their own sanctuary.

The late classical constructions (temples "E"), which began soon afterwards, was carried out by the Ephesian architect Demetrios (Δημήτριος ὁ Ἐφέσιος) Paionios (Παιώνιος ὁ Ἐφέσιος) and Cheirokrates (Χειροκράτης ὁ Ἐφέσιος). It should be faithfully restored the old temple, but in the end there was still some changes. Thus, on the mass of debris from the old building a larger area (125.67 x 65,05 m, made 2.7 m height) on the basis of the new temple and the base increased considerably. The Temple of Artemis "E" had 117 columns with a height of approximately 18 m and had a stone roof. According to the report of Pliny, he is over 36 columns with reliefs ( "columnae caelata") decorated, have had. Also in this temple, the construction period lasted about a hundred years, with relatively long.

When the Apostle Paul around the year 55 AD, arrived in the metropolis, he said such a big run that many are said to have feared for the Artemis cult, and for their economic existence. The "riot of Demetrius" - a silversmith and manufacturer of devotional - is in the 19 Chapter of Acts described.

262 AD, the magnificent building was destroyed by the Goths, the remains of the inhabitants used as building material. Today, stands only a solitary pillar reconstructed from the swamp water.

Archeology
In the course of excavations at the town site of Ephesus, the Austrian Archaeological Institute will again and again since 1895 excavations at the site of Artemision ago. Found architectural fragments and other found objects as well as several copies of the statue of Artemis, which were found in urban areas, are on display in the hall of Artemis at Ephesus Museum in Selçuk.