DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5179#0256
THE EARLIER TEMPLES OF DIANA, ETC. 219
birtli of Alexander."1 The burning of the Temple
naturally excited great dismay in the minds of the
Bphesians ; and the magi living at Ephesus regarded
the fire as the forerunner of a much greater misfor-
tune ; they ran about the city, beating their faces,
and crying out,—-"This day has brought forth a great
calamity for Asia:" an observation -which they subse-
quently turned to account by pretending that it refer-
red to Alexander. In consequence of this sacrilege,
" it was decreed by the public council of Asia, that the
name of him who had burnt the Temple of Diana at
Ephesus should be illaudatus, the worst and basest
of men, the perfection of all wickedness; one who
is neither worthy of mention nor remembrance, nor
indeed even to be named."3 The temple was pillaged
by Memnon, the general of Darius, shortly after its
reconstruction was commenced, about 334 B.C.3
It will naturally strike every one as being very
remarkable, that buildings constructed of stone and
marble, should have been so frequently destroyed by
fire; but Ave must remember, that the rafters and
internal ceilings were always of Avood, and that from
the high conducting power of the bronze tiling with
which they Avere frequently covered, they must have
been very liable to become ignited by lightning.
1 Plut. in Alex.; Cicero, (Nat. JDeor. ii. 27,) attributes this
saying to Timceus.
2 Aul. Gel. ii. 6, voce IUaudatus. Laudalus signified, in old lan-
guage, to mention, or call by name. See also Val. Max. viii. 15.
3 Arrian. i. 18.
birtli of Alexander."1 The burning of the Temple
naturally excited great dismay in the minds of the
Bphesians ; and the magi living at Ephesus regarded
the fire as the forerunner of a much greater misfor-
tune ; they ran about the city, beating their faces,
and crying out,—-"This day has brought forth a great
calamity for Asia:" an observation -which they subse-
quently turned to account by pretending that it refer-
red to Alexander. In consequence of this sacrilege,
" it was decreed by the public council of Asia, that the
name of him who had burnt the Temple of Diana at
Ephesus should be illaudatus, the worst and basest
of men, the perfection of all wickedness; one who
is neither worthy of mention nor remembrance, nor
indeed even to be named."3 The temple was pillaged
by Memnon, the general of Darius, shortly after its
reconstruction was commenced, about 334 B.C.3
It will naturally strike every one as being very
remarkable, that buildings constructed of stone and
marble, should have been so frequently destroyed by
fire; but Ave must remember, that the rafters and
internal ceilings were always of Avood, and that from
the high conducting power of the bronze tiling with
which they Avere frequently covered, they must have
been very liable to become ignited by lightning.
1 Plut. in Alex.; Cicero, (Nat. JDeor. ii. 27,) attributes this
saying to Timceus.
2 Aul. Gel. ii. 6, voce IUaudatus. Laudalus signified, in old lan-
guage, to mention, or call by name. See also Val. Max. viii. 15.
3 Arrian. i. 18.