Temple of Ephesian Artemis

Selçuk, Turkey

Freely accessible

Public space — no opening hours to check.

Strollie cannot guarantee access — always check before you travel.

Opening hours: Apr-Sep 08:00-19:00; Oct-Mar 08:30-17:30

From OpenStreetMap — confirm before travelling

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The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, near modern Selçuk in Turkey, was an ancient Greek temple dedicated to a localized form of the goddess Artemis and counted among the Wonders of the Ancient World. The temple's history spanned centuries of destruction and reconstruction; the earliest version was destroyed by flood in the 7th century BCE, while a more elaborate reconstruction began around 550 BCE under the Cretan architect Chersiphron, funded by the wealthy King Croesus of Lydia. That incarnation stood until 356 BCE, when it was burned by an arsonist popularly identified as Herostratus. A final version was later funded by the people of Ephesus themselves, reflecting the temple's central importance to civic and religious life. The Ephesian Artemis was venerated as a distinctly local deity separate from her Hellenic counterpart and served as the city's protector. The temple was ultimately destroyed in 401 CE, leaving only foundations and fragments visible today.