Why was the temple of Artemis impressive?
It was the 7th Wonder of the Ancient World. It aroused the admiration of even Alexander the Great. Among others, Scopas and Praxiteles worked there, while the design is attributed to Chirocratus. The foundation of the temple was rectangular in form, similar to most temples at the time, but the building was made entirely of marble, with a decorated facade overlooking a large courtyard. There were 127 columns in total, aligned orthogonally over the whole platform area, except for the central cella, or house of the goddess. Marble steps surrounding the building platform led to the high terrace. The columns were sixty feet high with Ionic capitals and carved circular sides. The temple was both a marketplace and a religious institution. For years, the sanctuary was visited by merchants, tourists, artisans, and kings who paid homage to the goddess by sharing their profits with her. Recent archeological excavations at the site revealed gifts from pilgrims including statuettes of Artemis and a
