MR 152

 

Sully room 17

 

Artemis, the Greek goddess of hunting,

called Diana by the Romans, was often

shown armed with a bow and

accompanied by a doe.

 

Her aspect of goddess of the moon

is at times evoked by the moon and stars encircling her head. Here she is wearing

a tunic pulled up around her knees

to make it easier to run.

 

This statue, placed in the centre of the room built for Henry II, is a romantic allusion

to the King’s mistress, Diane de Poitiers.

Artemis of Ephesus could only be likened to her from afar (Acts 19:28). Unlike the virginal Greek Artemis, she was an opulent goddess of fertility and one of the mother-goddess figures. A famous statue shows her with a black face, hands and feet. The imposing temple that is dedicated to her is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the world. Significant trade was built up around her cult. ^AR13

Considered one of the Seven Wonders

of the Ancient World, the temple of Artemis of Ephesus was dedicated to the goddess of hunting. Only the foundations and a column remain of this temple that once measured 130m (425 feet) long, 65m (220 feet) wide and 18m (60 feet) high.

 

The effective ministry of Paul in this city was considered a threat to this temple (Acts 19:27).

 

Ruins of the temple of Artemis

A close relationship has been established with ‘the great Artemis of Ephesians’ (Acts 19:28) and the major goddesses of other peoples. Close analogies exist between her and Cybele, the Phrygian goddess, as well as other female representations of divine power in the countries of Asia (Ma of Cappadocia, Astarte of Phoenicia, and Atargatis (Br 4480) and Myletta of Syria) and it could be said that all these divinities are merely variations of one and the same religious concept.

Artemis of Ephesus              CA 1202

 

Sully 1^st floor

 

room 37 showcase 1 (3)

The goddess’s body is sheathed

in a narrow tunic, decorated with

rows of superimposed breasts or

bulls’ testicles, symbols of fertility.

 

She is wearing a high calathos

on her head. ^AR19

 

She was represented with all the attributes of the Mother of the Gods and accordingly she wore a crown of towers, reminiscent of the Tower of Babel. ^AR15

Ephesus was the crucible where the pagan
cult of the mother-goddess was Christianised
and transformed into the fervent worship
of Mary, who became

“Mother of God”. ^{AR16, AR17}

It was to the Christians of Ephesus that Paul the Apostle announced such a change of direction.  - Acts 20:17-30, 2 Thessalonians 2:3, note.

In 431 AD, the third ecumenical council held in this city gave Mary the title of 'Theotokos’, a Greek word meaning ‘God-bearer’. The use of this title by the Church was a determining factor in the development of the Doctrine of Mary. The prototype of Feast of the Assumption processions could be seen in those made in honour of Cybele and Artemis. ^AR18