Artemis
Culture & SocietyWhat is the meaning of Artemis in the Bible?
Artemis was an ancient Greek goddess associated with the hunt, wilderness, wild animals, childbirth, and the moon; in Ephesus, she was particularly venerated as a fertility goddess. Her magnificent temple at Ephesus was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, drawing pilgrims and wealth to the city for centuries.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding the widespread devotion to Artemis, particularly her Ephesian manifestation, provides crucial context for the events described in Acts 19, where her cult's economic and religious prominence clashed with early Christian evangelism. Her cult represented a significant cultural and religious force that early Christians encountered and challenged in the Greco-Roman world.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Artemis in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Artemis clarify?
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Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.