Forest of Columns

View looking south at the forest of columns at the east end of the Temple of Artemis.  The stubs of two fluted columns in the center of the image were erected in antiquity on two square bases.  This was because that at the time of the Roman expansion of the temple and it division into two parts, one for Emperor worship, the other for Artemis, the original cella was dismantled and two of the short columns were placed here.

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This temple was built over centuries, and was never completed.  It is estimated that only 20 columns were ever erected for this temple.  In AD 1444 twelve were still standing, in 1750 only six columns, and now two!