The Seven Wonders of the World/The Temple of Artemis



The temple of Artemis at Ephesus was a large stone temple constructed around 550 BCE.

The temple of Artemis at Ephesus was destroyed on July 21, 356 BCE in an act of arson committed by Herostratus. According to the story, his motivation was fame at any cost. The Ephesians, outraged, announced that Herostratus' name never be recorded. The Greek historian Strabo later noted the name, which is how we know today. The temple was destroyed on the same night that Alexander the Great was born. Alexander, as king, offered to pay to rebuild the temple, but his offer was denied. Later, after Alexander died, the temple was rebuilt in 323 BCE.

The new temple was destroyed by the Goths in 262 BCE. The temple was rebuilt again, only to collapse. During a dispute between followers of Artemis and the Apostle John (see Acts of John) This event causes the eventual disbanding of the cult of Artemis, and the mass conversion of the Ephesians to christianity.