Ephesus: The Gymnasium, formerly supposed Temple of Diana (Artemis)
| Department | Archive |
|---|---|
| Collection | BSA SPHS Image Collection |
| Reference No. | BSA SPHS 01/1207.3122 |
| Level | Item |
| Description | Glass negative, full plate size, a copy negative. |
| Condition | Black paint used to cover the sky, presumably to remove imperfections. |
| Dimensions | 21.5 x 16 cm |
| Place |
Ephesus |
| Dates | 1872-1873 |
| Donor/Creator |
Trotman, Corporal J. Trotman, Mrs |
| Scope and Content | Part of a collection of images photographed by Corporal Trotman around the area of Ephesus and the Seven Cities of Asia Minor, taken between 1871-1873. The original description in the SPHS register reads: "Ephesus: formerly supposed Temple of Diana". |
| Notes | Date based on Corporal Trotman's time at Ephesus based on entries in the 1877 book, Discoveries at Ephesus by J.T. Wood. Trotman was with Wood for three seasons from 1872 until early 1874. Wood indicates that Trotman used the summer of 1873 to travel to the 'seven cities' of Asia Minor to photograph. The images were made available to the SPHS (by Mrs Trotman according to the negative register) in 1892 (JHS 13: xxxvii). J.T. Wood 1877, Discoveries at Ephesus, p. 27 indicates that when looking for the location of the Temple of Artemis in 1863, he excavated the area of the Gymnasium which was at one time thought to be the temple by previous travellers. |
| Further information | The temple of Artemis (Artemision) in Ephesus near Ayasuluk hill was known as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Archaeological evidence suggests it was sacred since the Bronze Age ddicated to a local deity who later became associated with the Greek Artemis. The oldest remains of the actual temple date to the 6th c. and later embellished by Croesus of Lydia who donated a series of columns decorated with relief sculture. It was extensively rebuilt following its destruction by fire set by the aronist Herostratus. Artemision, was a particularly popular pilgrim destination until it was destroyed by the Goths in 268 AD. Finally, the closure of the temple by the Christians marked the end of paganism. Spolia from the temple were used in the construction of other buildings, including some columns in Hagia Siphia in Constantinople, Parts of the temple’s architecture and sculture are in the British Museum from excavations by J.T. Wood in the 1870s and D.G. Hogarth in 1904-1906. |