Wood, John T.: Modern discoveries on the site of ancient Ephesus (London, 1890)

CHAPTER III.

Discovery of the Site of the Temple of
Diana.

The temple of Diana (Artemis) at Ephesus ranked
as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and is
alluded to, not only by many ancient writers, but in a
special manner in the Acts of the Apostles. The re-
mains of the famous temple, deeply buried, and thus
hidden from the eye of man for so many centuries,
became a subject of great curiosity during the last and
present centuries, travellers having only the vague descrip-
tions of the temple and its site by ancient writers.

The firman, which was procured for me from the
Sublime Porte by the British Government, permitted me
to excavate for antiquities at Ephesus and Colophon,
and allowed me to export all the antiquities I might
find excepting duplicates: these latter must be left for
the Ottoman Government. These terms were so advan-
tageous, that Mr. Blunt, the English Consul at Smyrna
at that time, in writing to inform me that the Pasha had
sent him word that the excavations might be resumed
after a temporary suspension, added that he merely
requested that when Mr. Wood had found the temple