In the 5th century BC, the people of Ephesus, now part of Turkey, constructed a magnificent temple to worship the goddess Artemis. This temple, built in the stunning style of Greek architecture, is listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Pilgrims from afar flocked daily to present valuable offerings to the goddess; gold, silver, and jewels poured in and were stored in the treasury, making the Temple of Artemis famous as a treasure of the world.
The goddess Artemis is also known as Diana in Roman mythology. She is the daughter of the goddess Leto and the god Zeus, and the twin sister of Apollo. Diana is famously known as the goddess of the hunt, possessing a strong temperament akin to that of a man. Consequently, in this temple, architects utilized Ionic columns, one of the two types of “female” columns, but the Ionic columns are sturdier than the Corinthian ones.
Artemis’s fierce temperament is clearly demonstrated in her punishment of the giant Tityos, who dared to pursue her mother Leto. Her brother Apollo used golden arrows to bring down the giant. Along with these arrows, they also punished Niobe for her arrogance and disrespect towards Leto.
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God Zeus |
Artemis is a beautiful maiden, but this virgin goddess rejects all earthly romantic love. Thus, when the handsome and skilled hunter Actaeon accidentally wandered into a forbidden grove where the nymphs bathed and frolicked, he inadvertently “sinned” by catching a glimpse of Artemis’s pristine body. Ashamed and then enraged, she transformed Actaeon into a spotted golden deer, and his own hunting dogs tore him apart. The tragic death of Actaeon further amplified Artemis’s fierce authority.
Since ancient times, Artemis has been venerated as the goddess who protects wildlife in the forest, later evolving into the goddess of hunting and subsequently the goddess of plants and flowers. Consequently, Artemis became associated with fertility, abundant harvests, and prosperity. Thus, she also became the protector of childbirth and family happiness. This interpretation led to the continued worship of the goddess Artemis. However, most notably and popularly, Artemis remains the goddess of hunting, an exceptional virgin huntress.
In 356 BC, the temple was reduced to ashes by a delusional man named Herostratus. He believed that by committing this act, he would achieve eternal fame, and humanity would never cease to curse the scoundrel who destroyed a masterpiece of human art.
