Temple of Artemis (Artemision)

One of the Seven Wonders of the World in ancient times, the Temple of Artemis (Artemision) at Ephesus was a famous place of pilgrimage for centuries.

Anatolia has always had a fertility goddess: Mita to the Phrygians, Cybele (or Kybele) to many other Anatolian peoples, Artemis to the Greeks and Diana to the Romans.

Unfortunately little remains of the vast, rich marble temple: only a few bits of marble column favored by the storks who arrive in the nearby town of Selçuk each spring.

There's not a lot to see, but it's worth dropping in at the Artemision ruins on the 3-km (2-mile, 30-minute) walk from Selçuk to the Ephesus archeological site along shady Dr Sabri Yayla Boulevard.

Imagine a vast marble temple with lissome sacred maidens doing ancient belly dances....

When St Paul gave his famous sermon in the Great Theater at Ephesus, he was accused by the city's silversmiths of being disrespectful to Artemis.

Actually, they were upset because St Paul's efforts to win converts to Christianity were making it more difficult to sell silver statuettes of Artemis to visiting pilgrims. Paul ruined their business, so they eventually succeeded in driving him out of Ephesus.

Ephesus Archeological Site

St John Basilica

Ephesus Museum

Selçuk

Sirince

Pamucak Beach

Kusadasi

Priene-Miletus-Didyma Tour

Romans in Turkey

Aegean Turkey

Where to Go

Temple of Artemis, Ephesus (Selcuk), Turkey

The few remaining bits of the Artemision, with stork in residence atop the tall column. In the background, Selçuk's St John Basilica.