The first monument to the Artemis cult built around the year 800 before Christ in the river marsh area near Ephesus. The first temple to the goddess of fertility, nature and hunting, Artemis (called Diana by the Romans) consists of some sacred stone, probably a meteorite. The temple was
destroyed and rebuilt several times until the year 550 BC, a king of Lydia, Croesus master and several Greek city of Ephesus in Asia Minor. In the attack, the temple was destroyed.
Croesus proved himself to be wise to finance the rebuilding of the temple. There are several versions that states who the real architect designer of the temple. One source said the architect of this temple is Theodore, others said Chersiphron.
The temple length is 300 feet (100 m) and width of 150 feet (50 m) with an area of 4 times of the size of the previous temple. Until the year 356 BC, this temple became the pride of Ephesus. In that year, a young man named Herostratus Ephesus burned down the temple because he wanted to register his name in history. Residents irate Ephesus decreed for anyone who calls Herostratus name will be put to death. (Almost certain that the punishment for Herostratus heavier than 'just' the death penalty. Roasted, perhaps?)
Not long later, still at the location of the same swamp, inhabitants of Ephesus again seek the temple construction would be the last temple that once stood at Ephesus. Architect of the largest temple at the same time last Artemis is Scopas of Paros. Foundation is made of charcoal-coated fleece that stretches along 430 feet (130 m) and width of 260 feet (80 m). The temple was made entirely with marble base material. A total of 127 vertical pillars built on the foundation and 36 of them decorated with carved figures of gods and home to great works of art such as four bronze statue of Amazon women. Pliny, the Roman historian said the temple was built for 120 years but experts suspect maybe only half. It is said that Alexander the Great also contribute to fund the construction of the temple.
262 last year was the year one can see this temple as a whole because of the Gothic people to come and destroy it. Population Ephesians vowed to rebuild it, but in the early fourth century, some people have become Christians and begin to forget. Finally in 401, St. John Chrysostom demolish the remnants of the temple are still standing.