Ephesus, and the Temple of Diana

In this 1862 publication, the English architect and archaeologist Edward Falkener (1814–96) reconstructs the ancient features of Ephesus, including the famous Temple of Artemis. Complemented by detailed drawings, his thorough survey of the existing literature on Ephesian buildings generated significant Victorian interest in ancient architecture.

The English architect and archaeologist Edward Falkener (1814–96) spent a fortnight sketching the ancient ruins of Ephesus during his trip through Anatolia in the 1840s. In Part I of this 1862 publication, he tries to reconstruct the architectural features of Ephesian buildings, tracing the history of the city. Falkener's accomplished sketches and layouts display his artistic talent, which won him the grand medal of honour at the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1855. Part II focuses on the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Falkener surveys ancient writings relating to the Greek temple, which still awaited rediscovery at that time. Although his speculations about the location of the temple were later proven wrong by John Turtle Wood, who correctly identified the site in 1869 (his 1877 account is also reissued in this series), Falkener's work added to the Victorian interest in ancient architecture.