3 min read
The Artemision, the great temple of the goddess Artemis, was counted among the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Built in the 6th century BC with the patronage of the Lydian king Croesus, it was among the largest buildings of its age and drew pilgrims from across the Mediterranean.
The temple was destroyed by fire in 356 BC and rebuilt on an even grander scale. It was finally ruined in late antiquity, and much of its marble was reused in other buildings, including later churches.
Today the site near Selçuk is a quiet field with a single column assembled from original drums, set among water-filled foundations. It asks for imagination rather than offering spectacle, which is why a guide's description of the vanished building matters here.
The stop takes only 15 to 20 minutes, so it fits most port calls.