At the center of the temple cella stood a monumental cult image of Artemis. The cult statue was said to have been approximately seven meters tall and carved by Endoios. It was made of wood, covered in gold leaf, and adorned with precious gems. The statue depicted the goddess standing, wearing a long, flowing robe and a crown of flowers and leaves. Her right hand held a bow and her left hand held a torch or a staff.
Other Statues
Besides the cult image of Artemis, there were numerous other statues and sculptures in the temple of Artemis. These included:
* Statues of Apollo, Leto, and the Muses: Apollo was the twin brother of Artemis, Leto was their mother, and the Muses were the goddesses of the arts and sciences.
* Statues of the Twelve Olympian gods: These were the major deities of the Greek pantheon, including Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Aphrodite, Ares, Hermes, Athena, Hephaestus, Hestia, Demeter, and Dionysus.
* Statues of local deities and heroes: These included the Nymphs, who were the spirits of the woods and forests, and the Curetes, who were the priests and guardians of Artemis.
* Statues of mythical creatures and monsters: These included the Centaurs, who were half-man, half-horse creatures, and the Gorgons, who were hideous monsters with snakes for hair.
The statues and sculptures in the temple of Artemis were all of exquisite workmanship and contributed to the temple's reputation as one of the most magnificent and awe-inspiring temples in the ancient world.