Temple of Artemis in Jerash

The swaying columns of the Temple of Artemis

04/2023 The building shown in the photo is the Temple of Artemis in Gerasa (Jerash, Jordan), one of the most important sacred buildings in the ancient city. Built in the 2nd century AD, it was dedicated to the goddess Artemis, the patron saint of Gerasa. Particularly impressive are the mighty Corinthian columns, twelve of which are still standing and dominate the temple's monumental façade. Despite its ruined state, the sanctuary still conveys an impression of the former splendor and religious significance of the Roman provincial city.

The mighty Corinthian columns of the Temple of Artemis are impressive not only with their height of over 11 meters, but also with their astonishing construction. Each column consists of several stone blocks stacked on top of each other. These blocks are not rigidly connected but flexibly supported by iron clamps and lead casting. This technique made the structures resistant to earthquakes and still gives the columns a slight mobility today.

Locals like to demonstrate this phenomenon to visitors by placing a silver spoon between the column and the capital: even the slightest vibration causes it to tremble. This impressively demonstrates the sophistication and engineering expertise of Roman architecture.