A Timeline of The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
A sacred site for a local fertility goddess, possibly a precursor to Artemis, already existed before Greek influence, showing deep Anatolian religious roots.
Pre-Archaic
Built under King Croesus of Lydia, this grand marble temple was dedicated to Artemis and became a major religious and economic center in the Greek world.
550 BCE
The temple was deliberately burned down by Herostratus, who sought fame; its loss shocked the ancient world.
356 BCE
Rebuilt even larger and more ornate, the new temple restored Ephesus's prominence and remained one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
323 BCE
The temple was heavily damaged or destroyed during a raid by the Goths, amid broader Roman instability and decline.
262 CE
With Christianity rising and pagan worship outlawed by emperors like Theodosius I, the temple was abandoned and Artemis worship was suppressed.
391 CE
The structure was stripped for materials; its marble reused in Christian and Byzantine buildings, including churches in Constantinople.
400 - 1400 CE
Archaeologist John Turtle Wood rediscovered the temple site in 1869, bringing ancient Ephesus and Artemis’s temple back into scholarly view.
1869 CE
