Temple of Artemis in Ephesus
E. A. W.
English 1 Honors
September 28, 2013
The Ephesian’s Tribute to Artemis
I. Introduction The Temple of Artemis in Ephesus was a very famous monument in the ancient world. It was originally built around 550 BC to honor the goddess Artemis, sister of Apollo (Australia.edu). It was located in Ephesus, or today’s Turkey, and attracted many Grecian tourists and merchants to worship there despite the journey across the Aegean Sea (Australia.edu). This tribute to the goddess of the moon was also unusually built. According to Rosalyn Benson (MU Ohio), It had a double peristyle, meaning it was divided by columns to create social gathering areas, and was uneven with the amount of columns located on each side. “Unlike the other temples, the building was made of marble, with a decorated façade overlooking a spacious courtyard” (Royalty). The Temple’s dimensions were also abnormally large, 170’ across, 366’ long, with columns measuring to 6’ diameter and 58’ high (Benson). To put it in perspective, larger than an American football field by 66’ length and 10’ width. When the Temple was rebuilt after its first destruction, it was located on the same site as the original, therefore both had the same dimensions and were built on a 9’high platform (Benson). What would this enormous temple be built so largely for? The Temple of Artemis was not only used as an area of worship, but was also a space used for social gathering and as a marketplace, consequently drawing in many travelers (Royalty).
II. Importance to the Ancient World This tribute to Artemis was very famous throughout much of the ancient world, thus attracting many travelers. “The temple was a major center for activity for the entire city. It served as both a marketplace and a religious institution, and it was frequently visited by merchants, tourists, artisans, and kings who paid homage to the goddess by sharing their profits with her” (Royalty). According to the above quote, this temple was of so much
English 1 Honors
September 28, 2013
The Ephesian’s Tribute to Artemis
I. Introduction The Temple of Artemis in Ephesus was a very famous monument in the ancient world. It was originally built around 550 BC to honor the goddess Artemis, sister of Apollo (Australia.edu). It was located in Ephesus, or today’s Turkey, and attracted many Grecian tourists and merchants to worship there despite the journey across the Aegean Sea (Australia.edu). This tribute to the goddess of the moon was also unusually built. According to Rosalyn Benson (MU Ohio), It had a double peristyle, meaning it was divided by columns to create social gathering areas, and was uneven with the amount of columns located on each side. “Unlike the other temples, the building was made of marble, with a decorated façade overlooking a spacious courtyard” (Royalty). The Temple’s dimensions were also abnormally large, 170’ across, 366’ long, with columns measuring to 6’ diameter and 58’ high (Benson). To put it in perspective, larger than an American football field by 66’ length and 10’ width. When the Temple was rebuilt after its first destruction, it was located on the same site as the original, therefore both had the same dimensions and were built on a 9’high platform (Benson). What would this enormous temple be built so largely for? The Temple of Artemis was not only used as an area of worship, but was also a space used for social gathering and as a marketplace, consequently drawing in many travelers (Royalty).
II. Importance to the Ancient World This tribute to Artemis was very famous throughout much of the ancient world, thus attracting many travelers. “The temple was a major center for activity for the entire city. It served as both a marketplace and a religious institution, and it was frequently visited by merchants, tourists, artisans, and kings who paid homage to the goddess by sharing their profits with her” (Royalty). According to the above quote, this temple was of so much