Temple of Artemis Ephesus: History, Myth and Visitor Guide
The Temple of Artemis, or Artemision, at Ephesus in modern-day Selçuk, Turkey, was once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and I was determined to see it on my trip through Turkey. This temple dedicated to the goddess Artemis stood as one of antiquity’s most spectacular achievements.
Today, little remains beyond a solitary reconstructed column and scattered foundations, yet its story continues to inspire awe. This guide blends history, myth, and practical advice for visiting the site, with accurate information, and first-hand tips to help you plan your day in Turkey exploring the ancient city of Ephesus and other nearby attractions.
Where is the Temple of Artemis?
The Temple of Artemis is located near the ancient city of Ephesus in modern-day Turkey. More precisely, it is just outside the town of Selçuk in the Izmir Province.
How to Get There
Getting to the Temple of Artemis is straightforward as it’s in a very accessible town. Here’s how to do it: Once you are in the town of Selçuk, the temple site is extremely easy to reach.
On Foot: This is the easiest way. From the center of Selçuk (e.g., from the Basilica of St. John or the bus station), it is a flat, 5-10 minute walk. Just follow the signs pointing to “Artemis Tapınağı”.
By Taxi: A very short and cheap ride from anywhere in town. Or by one of the following guided tours.
Ephesus Tour with Temple of Artemis and Sirince Village From Izmir
What to Expect When You Visit
Manage your expectations. Unlike the well-preserved ruins of nearby Ephesus, very little remains of the Temple of Artemis. The site is essentially an open field with a few uncovered marble foundation blocks and a single, reconstructed column made from reassembled original drums. This column stands as a poignant marker for the lost Wonder.
It is a place for reflection and imagination. Standing there, knowing the immense history that unfolded on that exact spot, is a powerful experience for history enthusiasts. There is a small information board to provide context. You will also see a few trinket vendors selling replicas of the temple and guide books.
Admission: The site is free to enter and view from the surrounding pathway. You do not need a ticket.
Combine Your Visit: The temple is just one part of a fantastic historical day trip. Your visit to Selçuk must include:
The Ancient City of Ephesus: (2-3 km from Selçuk) The main attraction. A vast and stunningly preserved classical city.
The Ephesus Museum: (In Selçuk) Houses incredible artifacts from Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis, including statues of the goddess herself. This is where you truly see the temple’s glory.
The Basilica of St. John: (In Selçuk) Ruins of a massive church built by Emperor Justinian over the supposed burial site of John the Apostle.
Isa Bey Mosque: A beautiful 14th-century Seljuk mosque near the temple site.
Pro Tip: To truly appreciate the Temple of Artemis, first visit the Ephesus Museum in Selçuk to see the elaborate sculptures and artifacts recovered from the site. This will help you imagine the incredible scale and beauty that once stood in the now-empty field.
A Brief History of the Temple of Artemis
Commissioned in the 6th century BCE and funded in part by the legendary wealth of King Croesus of Lydia, the Temple of Artemis was not merely a building; it was a declaration of human ambition dedicated to the divine. Designed by the renowned architect Chersiphron of Knossos and his son Metagenes, its scale was staggering—a sprawling platform measuring 115 by 55 meters, crowned with a forest of over 100 columns that dwarfed the later Parthenon in Athens . For centuries, it stood as a beacon of piety, commerce, and wonder, drawing pilgrims, merchants, and kings to its steps.
c. 356 BCE — On a night when legend claims the goddess was too busy attending the birth of Alexander the Great to defend her house, a man named Herostratus set its cedar-wood roof ablaze. He sought fame through infamy, and the Ephesian authorities, in a futile attempt to thwart him, condemned his name to oblivion. But history, with its long memory, preserved it, forever tying his name to the temple’s first great fall.
334 BCE — As Alexander the Great swept through Asia Minor, he stood before the scorched foundations and offered to fund the temple’s reconstruction in full. The Ephesians, with a diplomacy as polished as their marble, demurred. They are said to have offered a graceful refusal: “It is not fitting for a god to dedicate offerings to other gods.” They rebuilt it themselves, creating an even more magnificent structure that would stand for six more centuries.
262 CE — The tide of history turned again. This time, the threat was not a lone madman but the invading Gothic hordes from the north. They sacked Ephesus and badly damaged the temple, looting its treasures and breaking its spirit. Though patched up, it never fully regained its former splendour.
By the 5th century CE — The world had changed. Christianity, once a persecuted sect, was now the dominant force of the Roman Empire. The worship of the old gods was forbidden. The great Artemision, its altars cold and its halls silent, was abandoned to the marsh and the stonecutter. Its magnificent stones were quarried for new churches and fortifications, its memory fading into local myth.
A single, reconstructed column stands in a field, a poignant marker for a vanished Wonder. The artifacts that escaped the lime kilns and looters—exquisite sculptural fragments, intricate ivories, and coins that once traded hands in its shadow—now reside in the hushed halls of the British Museum in London and the Ephesus Archaeological Museum in Selçuk.
The Antipater of Sidon, a Greek poet of the 2nd century BCE wrote: “I have set eyes on the wall of lofty Babylon on which is a road for chariots, and the statue of Zeus by the Alpheus, and the hanging gardens, and the colossus of the Sun, and the huge labour of the high pyramids, and the vast tomb of Mausolus; but when I saw the house of Artemis that mounted to the clouds, those other marvels lost …
Myth & Cultural Significance
The sacred shrine of Artemis was an important religious centre many centuries before the temple that was considered one of the wonders was built. In Greek mythology, Artemis was revered as goddess of the hunt, wilderness, and childbirth. The Ephesian version of Artemis was distinct, represented as a fertility figure adorned with multiple breasts (or bull testicles, according to some scholars). The temple of Artemis was more than a shrine — it was an economic and political hub, serving as a place of asylum and as a treasury for the ancient city of Ephesus.
Why is the Goddess Artemis also called Diana?
The names Artemis and Diana refer to the same ancient goddess, but the names come from two different cultures and languages.
Artemis is her Greek name. She was one of the twelve major Olympian deities in ancient Greek religion and mythology. She was the daughter of Zeus and Leto, and the twin sister of Apollo. Her domains included the hunt, the wilderness, wild animals, the moon, chastity, and childbirth.
Diana is her Roman name. As the Romans came into contact with and conquered Greek civilizations, they adopted much of Greek mythology but gave the gods Roman names. Diana was the Roman counterpart to Artemis, absorbing nearly all of her attributes and myths.
Discovery of the Temple
For centuries, the precise location of the Temple of Artemis was lost to history, fading into legend and its stones swallowed by the silt of the Cayster River. It was a ghost, a wonder known only from ancient texts, its physical reality doubted by many scholars. This changed not by accident, but through the relentless, almost obsessive, determination of one man: British engineer and architect John Turtle Wood.
Sponsored by the British Museum and driven by a deep fascination with the ancient world, Wood embarked on what would become a seven-year odyssey of frustration and discovery. Beginning in 1863, he combed the countryside around Selçuk, Turkey, battling malaria, harsh winters, financial constraints, and sceptical local authorities. His initial searches, based on vague clues from classical authors like Strabo, proved fruitless.
The breakthrough finally came in 1869, not in an open field, but deep beneath the earth. Wood, employing engineering logic, theorized that the temple must have been connected to the city by a sacred processional way. Following this hunch, he excavated a vast trench from the ancient theatre towards the suspected temple site. Over twenty feet down, through layers of mud and history, his workers struck the unmistakable marble paving of the Roman portico leading to the sanctuary.
With renewed vigour, they dug deeper, and soon the ghosts of the Wonder began to emerge from the earth: massive foundation blocks, sculptural fragments of the highest quality, and, most triumphantly, sections of the temple’s own ornate column drums. These artifacts confirmed beyond doubt that Wood had found the site of the Artemision. The most celebrated find was a magnificent marble drum, intricately sculpted with a figure of a weeping Greek god—likely Hermes or Thanatos.
Wood’s discovery sent shockwaves through the archaeological world. He had done the impossible: he had pulled the Temple of Artemis from the realm of myth and firmly back onto the map. The crates of sculptures and architectural fragments he shipped back to London, now housed in the British Museum, provided the first tangible evidence of the temple’s breathtaking scale and artistic splendour, forever changing our understanding of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
What Remains Today
Visitors to the site will find a solitary reconstructed column, bases of other columns, and scattered stones in a grassy field. While modest compared to its ancient grandeur, the ruins are evocative, especially when you imagine the temple built to honour a Greek goddess that once towered over this ancient city. Informational signs provide context, but visiting the nearby Ephesus Archaeological Museum is essential for deeper understanding.
Planning Your Visit
Location & Access
- Location: Just outside Selçuk, about 3 km from the main Ephesus archaeological site.
- How to get there: From Selçuk town center, it’s a 15-minute walk or a short taxi ride. Buses also connect Selçuk with nearby towns like Kuşadası and İzmir.
Hours & Fees
- Entrance: Free of charge.
- Hours: Open-air site, accessible at any time, though daylight hours are recommended for safety and photography.
Accessibility
The site is mostly flat but grassy, with uneven ground. Wheelchair access is possible but may be challenging after rain. Benches are limited. For visitors with mobility concerns, a taxi drop-off close to the column is advisable.
Tips from Experience
- Visit early morning or late afternoon for cooler temperatures and softer light for photography.
- Combine your trip with the nearby Ephesus ruins, House of the Virgin Mary, and Basilica of St. John for a full-day tour.
- Bring water and sun protection — there is little shade on site.
- Spend 20–30 minutes at the ruins themselves, then head to the Ephesus Museum in Selçuk to see the artifacts and reconstructions.
Is It Worth Visiting?
Yes — but with the right expectations. If you’re looking for grand ruins like the Parthenon, you may be disappointed. If you appreciate ancient Greek history, Greek mythology, and the chance to stand on the site of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Artemision is a moving stop. Combined with the Ephesus complex, it enriches your understanding of ancient times in Asia Minor.
Common Visitor Questions
Is the Temple of Artemis worth visiting?
Yes. While little remains, it is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Combined with nearby Ephesus ruins, it makes a rewarding cultural stop.
How much time should I spend at the Temple of Artemis?
About 20–30 minutes at the site itself, plus additional time at the Ephesus Archaeological Museum to see artifacts.
How do I get to the Temple of Artemis from Ephesus?
The site is about 3 km from the main Ephesus ruins. It’s a 15-minute walk from Selçuk, or you can take a taxi for convenience.
Is the Temple of Artemis accessible for wheelchairs?
The ground is mostly flat but uneven and grassy. Wheelchair access is possible with assistance, but conditions may be difficult after rain.
What else should I see nearby?
Combine your visit with the ancient city of Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, the Basilica of St. John, Şirince, a charming hillside village and the Ephesus Archaeological Museum.
Final Thoughts
The Temple of Artemis may now be a quiet field with a lone column, but its legacy endures through Greek mythology, architecture, and cultural memory. With accurate history, practical tips, and cultural context, your visit transforms a modest ruin into an unforgettable journey into ancient times.
A visit to Turkey promises an intoxicating blend of ancient wonders and sensory delights. Soar above the surreal, fairy-tale landscape of Cappadocia in a hot air balloon at sunrise for a truly unforgettable spectacle. Afterward, immerse yourself in the country’s rich culture by indulging in its world-renowned cuisine, from savory kebabs and flaky börek to sweet, syrup-soaked baklava.
No meal is complete without sipping a strong, thick cup of traditional Turkish coffee, often followed by the fortune-telling ritual from the grounds. Throughout the day, join the locals in enjoying a glass of fragrant apple tea or robust çay served in tulip-shaped glasses. Finally, for the ultimate relaxation, seek out one of the country’s many renowned Turkish hot springs, such as those in Pamukkale, where you can bathe in mineral-rich waters that have soothed travelers for millennia.
A trip to Turkey offers an unforgettable mix of history, culture, and natural beauty from soaking in the famous hot springs of Pamukkale to walking through the ancient ruins of Ephesus, one of the best-preserved classical cities in the world. Nearby, you can visit the peaceful House of the Virgin Mary, believed to be her final home. No visit is complete without savoring authentic Turkish cuisine and sipping rich Turkish coffee. Then, head to the magical landscapes of Cappadocia, where unique rock formations and hot air balloons create a truly dreamlike experience.