| The Temple of Artemis (Artemision)
- A column and scanty fragments strewn on
the ground are all that remains of the
Seventh Wonder of the World. According to
Strabo, the Temple of Artemis was
destroyed at least seven times and rebuilt
just as many times. Archaeological findings
instead attest to at least four rebuilding
of this temple, starting in the 7th century
B.C. . Chersiphone and Metagene erected an
Ionic dipteral temple in the 6th century
B.C. and its building required was set on
fire by Herostratus; the successive majestic
structure, built entirely of marble, was
begun in 334 and was finished in 250 B.C. :
it aroused the admiration of even Alexander
the Great who would have liked to have taken
charge - at his own expense - of the
continuation of the work. Among others,
Scopas and Praxiteles worked there, while
the design is attributed to Chirocratus.
The Hellenistic temple was built on a
podium, to which one ascended by a plinth
formed of thirteen steps. A double colonnade
encircled the peristyle and the inside space
(105 x 55 m) . The relief of the columns
were believed to be the work of Scopas,
while Praxiteles worked at the realization
of the altar. The decadence marked by the
Goths ( 3rd century) continued in the
Christian era, when materials for the nearby
Basilica of St.John and for is left of
numerous works of art which at one time used
to adorn it, although interesting tokens are
kept at the local Museum at the British
Museum in London.
The foundation of the temple was
rectangular in form, similar to most temples
at the time. Unlike other sanctuaries,
however, the building was made of marble,
with a decorated facade overlooking a
spacious courtyard. There were 127 columns
in total, aligned orthogonally over the
whole platform area, except for the central
cella or house of the goddess. Marble steps
surrounding the building platform led to the
high terrace which was approximately 80 m
(260 ft) by 130 m (430 ft) in plan. The
columns were 20 m (60 ft) high with Ionic
capitals and carved circular sides.
The temple served as both a
marketplace and a religious institution. For
years, the sanctuary was visited by
merchants, tourists, artisans, and kings who
paid homage to the goddess by sharing their
profits with her. Recent archeological
excavations at the site revealed gifts from
pilgrims including statuettes of Artemis
made of gold and ivory... earrings,
bracelets, and necklaces... artifacts from
as far as Persia and India. |
FETHIYE
BODRUM
MARMARIS
ANTALYA
