Marble Torso of The Artemis of Ephesus

myminifactory

The Ephesian Artemis, a revered "great mother goddess" also referenced in the New Testament (Acts 19), was extremely popular throughout the ancient world, as indicated by numerous excavations of her cult statue across the Roman Empire. Copies of this iconic statue have been unearthed in many regions, suggesting its widespread influence. The statue we see today is a reproduction, replacing the original wooden image that likely perished after the devastating fire of 356 BCE. Despite being a replica, it retains several ancient characteristics (e.g., her static pose), while other features remain undated to the archaic age. The Lepcis statue, displayed alongside this article, exemplifies this phenomenon: on its upper chest, Artemis wears a zodiac, a symbol conceived in fourth-century Babylonia. On other replicas, Artemis dons a mural crown, a Mesopotamian and Syrian motif that gained popularity during the Hellenistic era. The winged Victories to her left and right appear to be innovations as well, although they have ancient predecessors. This sculpture was scanned at Masterpiece Fair 2018, where it was being sold for £250,000. The artwork has consistently been owned by private collectors: Elie Borowski, Basel, Switzerland, acquired it in the 1960s; UK Private collection, Mr. B.H., purchased it from Borowski in 1968.