Chersiphron (/ˈkɜːrsɪfrɒn/; Ancient Greek: Χερσίφρων; fl. 6th century BC), an architect of Knossos in ancient Crete, was the builder of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, on the Ionian coast.[1] The original temple was destroyed in the 7th century BC, and about 550 BC Chersiphron and his son Metagenes began a new temple, the Artemision, which became one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World in each of its three manifestations. It was burned by Herostratus in July 356 BC[1][n 1] and rebuilt again.

Model of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

The architect's name is recalled in Vitruvius, and in a passage of Pliny as "Ctesiphon", perhaps in confusion with the great Parthian city of the same name on the river Tigris.

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Notes

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  1. ^ "The aspiring youth that fired the Ephesian dome / Outlives in fame the pious fool that rais'd it."—Colley Cibber's 1699 play Richard III

Citations

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  1. ^ a b Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Chersiphron" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 85.
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