The Temple of Artemis-Selçuk

The Temple of Artemis or Artemision, also known as the Temple of Diana, was a Greek temple dedicated to a localised form of the goddess Artemis [1]. It was located in Ephesus, near modern-day Selçuk in Turkey [1]. The beginning of the history of the temple is unclear [1]. It is known, however, that the earliest version of the temple was destroyed by a flood in the 7th century BC [1]. A more elaborate reconstruction of the temple began around 550 BC under the leadership of the Greek architect from Crete Chersiphron, funded by Croesus of Lydia [1]. This version of the temple lasted until 356 BC, when it was burned down by an arsonist, popularly identified as Herostratus [1]. The final form of the temple was funded by the people of Ephesus [1]. The Temple of Artemis was staffed by a clergy, and the Goddess served by female priests with the title Melissonomoi [1].