Goddess Artemis Diana of Ephesus

Ephesus was the greatest Temple City in Asia Minor. It was dedicated to the Great Goddess Artemis Diana. This Temple was the last of the GreatGoddess Temples to remain open and was the site of Goddess worship well into the christian era.

When the Temple was in use, it was brightly painted and inlaid with stone. Most ancient Temples and statues that we see as pristine white, were brightly colored and vibrant. The colors would have similar to those found in Egyptian art. Statues were usually painted to resemble giant lifelike beings.

This is what the Temple may have looked like, the colors are those in use at the time, but how they were used, and in what order, I am not sure. This is just to give you a feeling for the intensity and vibrancy of the Temples.

It was at Ephesus that the christian church declared Mary to be the "the God-bearer" in 431 C.E. This move was intended to legitimize christianity in the eyes of the people of Asia Miinor. Prior to 431 C.E. Mary was not recognized by the Christian church.

Many of the Great Goddess's titles were taken, and declared to be the titles of Mary, including; "Queen of Heaven", "Divine Virgin", "Mother of All". Ephesus was chosen for Mary's installation to add legitimacy to the church's claim that Mary, not Diana, was "the Mother of God", the "Mother of All."

Diana Lucifera

This Roman Diana is known as "Diana Lucifera". Her grace, strength and power reflect the most consistent attributes of all Diana images. This is the Diana that was known in British Isles.