Temple of the Goddess Diana.
Mr. J. T. Wood, who is conducting the excavations on the site of the ancient temple of the “Great Goddess Diana” at Ephesus, sends home an interesting report of progress, under date of January 22. The temple is found to measure 163 ft. 9½ in., by 342 ft. 6½ in.; the platform on which it was raised, 239 ft. 4½ in., by 419 ft. 1½ in., measured on the lowest step. The length here given, nearly accords with that given by Pliny, viz., 425 Roman feet; the ascertained width exceeds Pliny’s dimension of 220 ft., which dimension must have, therefore, lost something in transcript from the original. An element of great beauty had almost escaped discovery, i. e., the plentiful use of gold in the decoration of the temple. One fragment was fortunately found composed of two astragals, between which a narrow slip of lead was doubled in, in the fold of which was inserted a narrow strip of gold which formed a fillet of gold, between the astragals. The beauty of the temple was, moreover, heightened by the use of brilliant colors, remains of which are found in numerous fragments, blue, red, and yellow being readily distinguished—blue for the background of enrichments and sculpture in relief, and the yellow for the parts requiring greater prominence. A number of the columns are inscribed on their bases, showing that they were dedicated to Artemis by various persons or communities. The foundations of the great altar in the Cella have also been further explored, and the position of the statue of the goddess has been, therefore, decided.