Artemis Temples

By: Ryesha Mezan & Amina Chitaoui

 Temple of Artemis, Corfu Greece

The Temple of Artemis is an Archaic Greek Temple in Corfu, Greece built around 580 BC in
the ancient city of Korkyra. The Temple is dedicated to the goddess Artemis. The Temple is
known as the first Doric temple exclusively built with stone and is considered the first
building to have all of the elements of the Doric architectural style included. The temple was
a peripteral-style building with a pseudodipteral configuration. It was one of the largest
temples at the time.
 Temple of Artemis: Architecture

The building was supported around its perimeter by colonnades consisting of two rows each for the
front and back of the building. At the centre of the temple it is subdivided in three spaces by two
colonnades consisting of ten columns each. The outer colonnade of eight by seventeen columns, also
called the peristyle had enough separation from the inner chamber that a second colonnade could be
added in the interior. This configuration of a single colonnade, in space allowing for a second, is
called pseudodipteral. The Artemis Temple is the earliest known example of this architectural style.
 Temple Of Artemis: Before & After
Before After

● The rectangular inner chamber This is how it remains today at Corfu,

was 9.4 m wide and 34.4 m long. Greece.
 Temple of Artemis: Pediments

The pediment of the Temple of Artemis depicts a fearsome creature called a Gorgon which had snakes for
hair, wings and tusks and this particular Gorgon was called Medusa. Medusa’s pose is rigid but with an
implied movement in the pinwheel of the arms and legs. Medusa’s children is on either side of her. Perseus
is shown looking at Medusa through his shield and aiming at her. The felines are the guardians of the
temple. The pediment shows the story of how Medusa was killed by Perseus.
 ● Center is a Gorgon who is called Medusa.

● On either side of Medusa is her children.

Pegasus is on the left, Chrysaor is on the
right.

● Perseus is shown aiming his shield to

Medusa.

● Two Felines are next to Medusa.

● Zeus is found slaying with a giant with his

thunderbolt.

● Opposite corner of Zeus is dead giant, while

experts believe are crouching human
Temple of Artemis: warriors.
Pediment
● The height of the piedmont is 2.79m
Why was the temple
made?
The temple purpose was to honor the
Greek goddess Artemis. Many people
who worshiped Artemis held festivals to
honor her statue. Celebrations were held
with music, dancing, and chantings of
faithfulness.
Who is the goddess
Artemis?
Artemis was the the daughter of Zeus the
ruler of all gods and the twin sister of
Apollo.
Artemis was the goddess of the hunt,
wild animals,wilderness, childbirth, and
virginity.
The detailing of the eggs on the upper
part of the body represent fertility, and
the animals on the lower part are lions,
leopards, goats, griffins, and bulls which
represent her title “Lady of The
Animals”.
 The Artemis Temple: Facts

● The artemis or the artemision temples are also rarely called the temple of
Diana.
● The temple is located in Ephesus (Turkey) and it is considered as one of the
seven wonders of the ancient world.
● The temple was built and reconstructed many times. The earliest temples were
mostly built out on a sacred stone many think that it was meteorite.
What happened to the temple?

The first time the Artemis temple was built was about the 800 B.C near a river in
Ephesus. By the 600 B.C an architect named Chersiphron took part in building a new
larger temple as the city grew and became a major port of trade, however this temple
didn’t last long. In 550 B.C, king Croesus of Lydia conquered many cities in Asia Minor
including Ephesus. During the fighting the temple was destroyed. However an
archaeological examination of the site suggests that a major flood hit the temple site at
about the time the destruction actually happened. The new ruler king Croesus rebuilt
the temple. The temple was burnt down by Herostratus in 356 B.C, however it was
reconstructed shortly after it was burnt on the same location. By the 262 A.D the temple
was destroyed by Goth’s. As christianity came it started to erase the idea of Artemision
and the temple was destroyed again and never rebuilt by the 402 A.D.
 Temple of Artemis: Before & After

Before After
This is the statue of Artemis, which was
found in city-hall of Turkey.