What does Temple of Artemis at Ephesus represent?

According to Strabo, the Ephesians identified an area near the city with the same name, and claimed this was the site of the goddess’ birth (Strabo 14.1. 20). The Ephesian Artemis was a very different version of the deity than the usual goddess of the hunt; here she was worshipped for fertility.

Who was the goddess Artemis in Ephesus?

In Greek thought and myth, Artemis was the twin sister of Apollo, born in Delos and a virgin huntress who replaced the Titan Selene as goddess of the moon. At Ephesus, she was worshipped mainly as a fertility goddess, and was identified with Cybele the mother goddess of eastern lands.

Why was Artemis the goddess of Ephesus?

She is related to other Anatolian mother goddesses, like Cybele. The Ephesians believed that Artemis was born in Ephesus (and not on Delos, as was commonly assumed), and accepted the shrine as an asylum.

Does the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus still exist?

The temple was destroyed by invading Goths in 262 ce and was never rebuilt. Little remains of the temple (though there are many fragments, especially of sculptured columns, in the British Museum).

How was the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus destroyed?

Arson
FloodLooting
The Temple of Artemis/Destroyed by

Destruction. In 356 BC, the temple burned down. Various sources describe this as a vainglorious act of arson by a man, Herostratus, who set fire to the wooden roof-beams, seeking fame at any cost; thus the term herostratic fame.

What was Artemis worshipped for?

goddess of hunting and wild animals
ARTEMIS was the Olympian goddess of hunting and wild animals, and the protectress of women and girls. She was widely worshipped in Greece with numerous shrines and temples scattered throughout the countryside. This page describes her cult in the southern and eastern Peloponnese.

Why does Artemis have so many breasts?

The traditional interpretation of the oval objects covering the upper part of the Ephesian Artemis is that they represent multiple breasts, symbolizing her fertility.

Why was the Temple of Artemis destroyed?

In 356 BC, the temple burned down. Various sources describe this as a vainglorious act of arson by a man, Herostratus, who set fire to the wooden roof-beams, seeking fame at any cost; thus the term herostratic fame.

Can you see the Temple of Artemis?

Remnants of the Temple of Artemis can be seen in the British Museum in London, England. How long did the Temple of Artemis take to build?? Begun c. 550 BCE, the marble temple took 120 years to complete.

What did the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus look like?

In terms of appearances, it resembled the classical Greek temple: a stoic rectangular structure with mighty columns. The temple measured 350 by 180 feet (106.68 by 54.86 meters). From the outside, its most striking feature was its more than 100 marble columns.