World Wonders: Temple of Artemis
14 Jun, 2010
The Temple of Artemis, or the Temple of Diana, was constructed around 550 BC at Ephesus. which is Turkey of today. The temple was a 120-year project started by Croesus of tyrJia. The site of temple is said to have antedated the Ionic immigration by many years, being older even than the oracular shrine of Apollo at Didyma. The pre-lonic inhabitants of the city were Leleges and Lydians. Excavations conducted later on have revealed that three successive temples were overlying one another on the site.
However, nothing remains of the temple as of now. Historians have recorded evidences that, in the seventh century, a flood destroyed the temple, depositing over half a metre of sand on the monument.
The temple of Artemis at Ephesus was destroyed on July 21, 356 BC in an act of arson committed by Herostratus. History states that Herostralus was ambitious and fame was his only aim.
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