Temple of Artemis history, one of the 7 wonders – Ephesus & Christian Roots
Overview
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the religious heart of a wealthy port city. Here a distinctly Ephesian Artemis—protector and life-giver—drew pilgrims, merchants and rulers. In the same landscape, early Christianity took root through the missions of St. Paul, the traditions of St. John and Mary, and the Council of Ephesus in 431. This page follows that journey from pagan sanctuary to Christian center.
Quick facts
Location: Ephesus (Selcuk), Türkiye
First monumental temple: 6th century BCE, supported by King Croesus
Fame: all-marble construction, immense size, rich decoration
Status: ruins with one standing column; stones reused in later buildings
Why it matters: key to understanding the rise of Christian Ephesus nearby
Origins of Ephesian Artemis
Long before the classical city, a local mother-protector was honored at a marshy sanctuary. As Greek settlers arrived, this Anatolian figure blended with the name Artemis. The Ephesian image—rigid and frontal, adorned with bands of animals and life symbols—stands for fertility, prosperity and civic safety. The sanctuary offered asylum, organized festivals, and tied city identity to the goddess.
Building a wonder
In the 6th century BCE architects Chersiphron and Metagenes built an all-marble temple on a high platform to resist floods. Ancient authors praised its forest of columns and treasures dedicated by kings and traders. In 356 BCE an arsonist, Herostratus, burned the temple; Ephesians later rebuilt it larger and more ornate in the Hellenistic age. The celebrated version counted 127 columns about 18 meters high and became a Wonder known across the Mediterranean.
Economy, festivals, law
The sanctuary was a bank and a magnet for trade. Processions, athletic contests, and guild rituals filled the calendar. Asylum at the temple drew refugees and sometimes irritated imperial officials. Craftsmen prospered by selling images and miniature shrines to pilgrims arriving by sea.
Acts 19: clash and change
The New Testament preserves a vivid scene. When St. Paul preached in Ephesus, silversmiths who made Artemis shrines feared losing business. Crowds filled the theater shouting “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.” The episode shows how devotion, identity and economy were intertwined. Yet a Christian community took hold and grew through the first centuries.
Late antiquity and the 431 Council
By the 4th–5th centuries earthquakes, raids and shifting harbors weakened the city. Imperial laws restricted pagan sacrifices, while bishops and monasteries gained influence. In 431 the Council of Ephesus met here and affirmed Mary as Theotokos—Mother of God—settling a central question about the person of Christ. Processions celebrated the decision in streets once dominated by Artemis’ cult. The event permanently linked Ephesus with Christian doctrine and devotion.
St. John and the House of Virgin Mary
Tradition holds that St. John taught in Ephesus and that Mary spent her final years nearby under his care. A modest stone house on Mount Koressos welcomes visitors who light candles, drink from the spring and leave prayers on the Wishing Wall. Whether every detail can be proven or not, the tradition itself maps Christian memory onto the same hills that once faced the great sanctuary.
Reading the city today
Walk the site and the layers appear. The Library of Celsus, the Marble Road and the Grand Theater display civic wealth. In a grassy field the temple’s foundations, blocks and a reconstructed column witness an older faith. On Ayasuluk Hill, the Basilica of St. John (rebuilt by Justinian) marks apostolic authority. A short drive away, the House of Virgin Mary offers quiet prayer. In a single day travelers can trace a path from spectacle to silence.
Timeline
Early first millennium BCE: local cult at a marshy sanctuary
6th century BCE: marble temple built with Croesus’ support
356 BCE: temple burned by Herostratus
Hellenistic–Roman: sanctuary rebuilt and renowned as a Wonder
c. 50s CE: St. Paul in Ephesus; riot of the silversmiths (Acts 19)
3rd century CE: Gothic raid contributes to decline
Late 4th–5th centuries: pagan rites restricted; Christian institutions rise
431 CE: Council of Ephesus proclaims Mary as Theotokos
6th century CE: Basilica of St. John rebuilt by Justinian
Modern era: excavations; ruins preserved with one standing column
Plan your visit
The temple ruins sit just outside Selcuk and can be visited quickly. Combine them with the ancient city, the Basilica of St. John and the House of Virgin Mary on Mount Koressos. Private Ephesus tours offer hotel or cruise-port pickup from Kusadasi or Izmir, licensed guides and flexible timing.
Study prompts
Compare mainland Greek Artemis to the Ephesian image—what do the symbols mean for local society?
Map Acts 19 onto modern Selcuk and Ephesus.
Discuss how the 431 Council shaped Christian teaching about Mary and why it mattered to everyday believers.
FAQ
Is much of the Temple of Artemis still standing?
Foundations, scattered stones and a single column remain; the scale is best imagined after viewing reconstructions in museums.
Can I visit the Temple of Artemis and the House of Virgin Mary in one day?
Yes. They are a short drive apart and commonly included on the same itinerary.
Why was the temple called a Seven Wonder?
For its size, all-marble design, engineering, decoration and the wealth of dedications it contained.
Where does St. Paul fit in this story?
His mission in the 50s CE challenged the shrine economy (Acts 19) and marks the turn from Artemis’ civic cult toward a Christian city.