This temple was build for the Greek Goddess of Hunting, wild nature and fertility. Her name was Artemis. She also known as Dianna. The temple in itself is modest and simple. The temple is often referred to as temple D or the great marble temple. The temple was mainly built using marble. The temple was sponsored by King Croesus (of Lydia) and was designed by Chersiphron, who was a Greek architect. It was decorated with bronze statues and sculptures. The sculptures were by; Pheidias, Polycleitus, Kresilas and Phradmon. These were the best artists of the time.

The temple was used as a religious institution and a marketplace. The temple was visited by merchants, tourists, artisans and kings who worshipped Artemis. They also worshipped Artemis by sharing their profits with her.

In more recent times, through excavations, gifts have been found from the site of the temple. Common gifts were statue of Artemis made of Gold and ivory, and jewellery, such as earrings, bracelets and necklaces. Some gifts came from as far as Persia and India.

Herostratus burnt down the temple on the night of 21st July 356 B.C.. He did this to immortalise his name, which he did with success. Alexander the Great was born on that very night. Over the next twenty years, the temple was to be restored and was called 'temple E'. When Alexander the Great conquered Asia Minor he helped to rebuild the temple.

In the first century (Anno Domini) of Christianity, St. Paul visited Ephesus and taught the ways of a Christian life. At that time Artemis, to the people of Ephesus, was a more powerful goddess than the Son of God, Jesus Christ. People did not wish to abandon their goddess, Artemis.

In 262 A.D., the Goths had destroyed the temple, but this did not defeat the Ephesians, as they vowed to rebuild it. Time passed and by the fourth century A.D., the majority of Ephesians had converted to the ways of Jesus Christ and Christianity. Due to this conversion, the Temple of Artemis, became of little value in its religious context.

In 401 A.D., St. John Chrysostom tore down the Temple of Artemis.