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Artifacts and Worshop
One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World was the Temple of
Artemis in the city of Ephesus in Turkey. It has been destroyed and
rebuild several times during its history. Its earliest form dates back
to eight century BC as a simple tree shrine built by the Amazons who
were devotees of the goddess. “The deity herself chose the site by
falling there in the form of a meteor, which landed upon a date palm,
and the shrines single most sacred object was a meter contained within
her crown. It is believed to house the very essence of the deity”. (The
Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft by Judika Illes, copyright 2005)
The Amazon tribe is believed to come from the Southern part of Russia,
and scientist have found evidence of them living in Ephesus. Sadly, the
Cimmerians in 650 BC destroyed the shrine and the Amazons lost control
of it.
In later rebuilding of the temple, the goddess image changed from a
date to a many-breasted woman indicating her capacity to nurture and
provide for all. The economy of Ephesus was based on the thousands of
pilgrims to her temple each year. Small status of this many-breasted
goddess were sold to these pilgrims. Her festival lasted a week
starting on August 13 with prayers for good harvest and protection from
bad storms being made. Offering of fruit or vines were left at
crossroads. Fires were lit in her honor, and hair washed in a mixture
of water and milk were done for her protection.
In 400 CE, her statue was destroyed by a zealot Christian. The
preaching of St. John Chrysostom against the Temple in 406 CE lead to
looting and burning of it, and by the fifth-century a cross was placed
where Artemis’s statue once stood.
author: Freya Dawn Child
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