Temple of Artemis, Selçuk

The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, stands today as a single reconstructed column rising from a marshy field on the edge of Selçuk. It is one of the most dramatic anti-climaxes in classical tourism — and one of the most thought-provoking, because the contrast between the lone column and the temple's documented glory makes the point about time and loss more powerfully than any complete monument could.

Selçuk is a 75-minute train ride from İzmir, and the temple site is about 15 minutes' walk from the station. It combines naturally with a visit to Ephesus (5 km away by taxi or dolmuş) and the Selçuk Museum, which holds some of the finest finds from both sites.

things to do sight
A story
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World — larger than the Parthenon, with 127 columns 18 metres tall. It was burned down by a man named Herostratus in 356 BCE, who reportedly confessed that he had done it purely to achieve immortality through infamy. The Athenians attempted to suppress his name from history; the attempt failed, and he is now more famous than most legitimate heroes of the period.

Other places in Things to Do