Birth of Alexander and Destruction of Temple of Artemis

[jan]

Will someone please explain the significance of the burning of the Temple of Artemis? Could it portend the burning of the Palace of Darius? Does anyone understand the importance attached to its destruction coupled with the birth of Alexander? As it was one of the seven wonders of the world, does it mean that in its destruction rises another more powerful wonder of the world?

[agesilaos]

The interpretation is in Cicero De Divinitas where it signified the birth of one who shall bring great disaster to Asia, Plutarch adds that it could only occur because Artemis was away attending Alexander's birth.The burning of Persepolis was in retaliation for Xerxes burning of the Acropolis in 480bc

[jan]

Thanks, Karl. I located a children's book by Lynn Curlee on the Seven Wonders of the World which explained that the temple was set fire so that the arsonist could become famous. There should be no doubt as to the date of the fire, should there be? Why then is there uncertainty about the birthday of Alexander? The article stated that legend had it that the King of Asia would be born on that same date, so perhaps it was construed that Alexander was born at that time.In other words, all the proofs for Alexander had to be met, like the legend of the Gordian Knot, the destruction of the temple, the trip to Siwa. All were to confirm that Alexander is the legitimate King of Asia. It is interesting to me that you say that he is the one who is to destroy Asia rather than he is the bona fide King of Asia. I suppose from the victims of his conquest it would appear that way, but to fulfill his destiny, he had to prove his legitimacy.

[agesilaos]

This is what Plutarch says.Alexander was born the sixth of Hecatombaeon, which month the Macedonians call Lous, the same day that the temple of Diana at Ephesus was burnt; which Hegesias of Magnesia makes the occasion of a conceit, frigid enough to have stopped the conflagration. The temple, he says, took fire and was burnt while its mistress was absent, assisting at the birth of Alexander. And all the Eastern soothsayers who happened to be then at Ephesus, looking upon the ruin of this temple to be the forerunner of some other calamity, ran about the town, beating their faces, and crying that this day had brought forth something that would prove fatal and destructive to all Asia.