The Influence of the Temple of Artemis on the U.S. Treasury Building

The Influence of the Temple of Artemis on the U.S. Treasury Building

The Temple of Artemis is located in Turkey, and is recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was built mainly of marble, and was considered both a religious monument and an architectural achievement, and was considered a remarkable structure.

While the Temple of Artemis was greatly adored in the ancient world, it was intentionally destroyed in 356 BCE by a man named Herostratus who set fire to the building in an attempt to gain fame. Many historical accounts actually say the destruction occurred on the same night that Alexander the Great was born. However, rather than letting the site stay in its destruct

ive state, the people of Ephesus rebuilt the temple on an even grander scale, which is the version that became primarily associated with the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. This was widely successful, but, in the 3rd century CE, raids by the Goths caused significant damage. Over time, the structure fell into ruin, and parts of its stone were reused in other buildings. Today, only ruins of the temple remain.

Now onto how the Temple of Artemis is seen in the U.S. Treasury Building! Most notably, the strongest similarity between the two is the strikingly tall pillars at the entrance. Additionally, the Treasury Building has the famous double grand staircase, directly inspired by the design of the Temple of Artemis. In fact, some of the most famous structures in Washington D.C. are inspired by Classical Roman or Greek architectural styles, such as the Lincoln Memorial or the Capitol Building. Maybe you'll start to see these elements of design in your next city visit!