The Temple that Shook the World
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was once described by Antipater of Sidon as the most beautiful of the Seven Wonders. It stood 425 feet long, 225 feet wide, and supported by 127 columns each 60 feet tall.
Wonder Facts
- 550 BC — first colossal iteration begun by Croesus
- Burned down in 356 BC on the night Alexander the Great was born
- Rebuilt even larger — 127 columns, 18m tall
- Final destruction by the Goths in 268 AD
Visiting Today
Only one reconstructed column remains standing in the marshy field, yet the site is deeply atmospheric. Free to visit. Located 15 minutes' walk from Ephesus. Combine with the Ephesus Archaeological Museum in Selçuk town centre.
The Legend of Fire and Alexander
On the night of 21 July 356 BC, a man named Herostratus burned the temple to the ground, motivated solely by a desire for immortality through notoriety. That same night, according to legend, Alexander the Great was born — and Artemis, busy attending the birth, could not protect her temple.
When Alexander later visited Ephesus, he offered to fund the complete rebuilding of the temple on one condition: that his name be inscribed on it. The Ephesians declined politely, saying it would be improper for one god to dedicate a temple to another.
Cleopatra's Pilgrimage
Cleopatra herself is believed to have sailed from Alexandria to worship at the Artemision. The temple held colossal cultural authority across the ancient Mediterranean world, serving as both a spiritual centre and a sophisticated banking institution.