T his idol, than which none was ever more fplendidly en-
fhrined, has been defcribed as of a middling fize and witnefling
its very great antiquity by the fafhion, in which it had been
formed; having the feet clofed. It was of wood, which fome
had pronounced cedar, and others ebony. Mutianus, a noble Ro-,
man, who was the third time conful in the year of our Lord
feventy five, affirmed from his own obfervation, that it was
vine, and had many holes filled with nard to nourifh and moiften
it, and to preferve the cement. It was gorgeoufly apparalled ;
the veft embroidered with emblems and fymbolical devices : and
to prevent its tottering, a bar of metal, it is likely, of gold,
was placed under each hand. A veil or curtain, which was
drawn up from the floor to the ceiling, hid it from view,
except while fervice was performing in the temple.
T he priefts of the goddefs were Eunuchs, and exceedingly
refpedted by the people. The old inftitutions required, that
virgins fhould affift them in their office, but, in procefs of time,
thefe, as Strabo has remarked, were not all obferved. The
titles of fome inferior minifters, it may be fuppofed, are recorded
on the marble, which we found near the entrance of the
valley. Thefe are the facred herald, the incenfer, the player
on the flute at the libations, and the holy trumpeter.
It may be imagined, that many ftories of the power and in-
terpofition of the goddefs were current and believed at Ephefus.
The moft ftriking evidence of the reality of her exiftence, and
of her regard for her fuppliants, was probably furnifhed by her
fuppofed manifeftations of herfelf in vifions. In the hiflory of
Maffilis, now Marfeilles, it is related, that fhe was feen by
Ariftarche, a lady of high rank, while fleeping, and that fhe
commanded her to accompany the Greek adventurers, by whom
that city was founded. Metagenes, one of the architects of
her tfemple at Ephefus, had invented a method of raifing the
vaft ftohes to the neceflary height, but it did not fucceed, fo
well
well as was expe&ed, with a marble of prodigious fize, defigned
to be placed over the door-way. He was exceffively troubled,
and, weary of ruminating, fell afleep, when he beheld the goddefs,
who bade him be comforted, fhe had been his friend.
The next day the ftone was found to have fettled, apparently
from its own weight, as he wifhed.
N e a r the path, after palling the aquaedudt at Aiafaluck, in
our way from Smyrna, we met with a curious memorial of the
importance of the goddefs, and of the refpedt paid to her. It
is a decree of the Ephefians, infcribed on a flab of white marble,
and may be thus tranflated. « To the. Ephefian Diana.
“ Inafmuch as it is notorious, that not only among the Ephe-
“ fians, but alfo every where among the Greek natiofis, tem-
“ pies are confecrated to her, and facred portions.; and that fhe
“ is fet up, and has an altar dedicated to her, on account of her
“ plain manifeftations of herfelf; and that befides, the greateft
“ token of the veneration paid her, a month is called after
“ her name; by us Artemifion, by the Macedonians and other
“ Greek nations, ,and in their cities, Artemifian ; in which,
“ general aflemblies and Hieromenia are celebrated, but not
“ in the holy city, the nurfe of its own, the Ephefian god-
“ defs : The people of Ephefus deeming it proper, that the
“ whole month called by her name be facred and fet apart to-
“ the goddefs, have determined by this decree, that the obfer-
“ vation of it by them be altered. Therefore it is enadted,
“ that in the whole month Artemifion the days be holy, and
“ that nothing be attended to on them, but the yearly feaftings,
“ and the Artemifiac Panegyris, and the Hieromenia; the en-
|| tire month being facred to the goddefs : for, from this im-
“ provement in her worfhip, our city fhall receive additional
“ luftre, and be permanent in its profperity for ever.” The per-
fon who obtained this decree, appointed games for the month,,
augmented the prizes of the contenders, and eredted ftatues of’
thofe who conquered. His name is not preferved, but he was.
probably