Tahqiqāt-e Tārikh-e Ejtemā’i (Social History Studies)

The Social, Cultural-Religious, and Political Contexts of the Presence of Iranians as Priests of the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus

Document Type : Research Article

Author

Farzad Abedi

PhD Candidate in Historical Archaeology, University of Tehran,tehran.iran.

https://doi.org/10.30465/shc.2025.50889.2602
Abstract
According to classical accounts, from the reign of Achaemenid Artaxerxes II until a century after the fall of the Achaemenid Empire, an Iranian family, named Megabyzus, held the position of Neocoros at the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus. A comparative study of these accounts alongside archaeological and epigraphic evidence provides crucial insights into the social, cultural-religious, and political contexts of this development and its impacts on Anatolia and the Aegean region. The hypothesis of this study suggests that after the Achaemenid conquest of Anatolia, the cultural-religious interactions between Iranian settlers and native Anatolians led to the emergence of syncretic religious systems, particularly centered around Artemis of Ephesus, who shared many characteristics with the Iranian goddess Anahita. Therefore, from the reign of Artaxerxes II, coinciding with the elevation of Anahita's status at the royal court, Artemis of Ephesus gained special prominence at the Achaemenid satrapal court in Lydia and Caria. Historical narratives and epigraphic evidence indicate that, alongside these developments, Iranian families assumed the position of Neocoros at key Artemis temples across Anatolia and the Aegean region. Their involvement provided the Achaemenid Empire with an opportunity to secure the religious support of native Anatolians and Aegeans, thereby solidifying its political presence in the region, while also bringing about profound changes in the cultural-religious landscape and ritual beliefs of the area.

Keywords

Artemis
Ephesus
Achaemenid
Iranian Clergy
Anatolia

Subjects

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  • Receive Date 04 January 2025
  • Revise Date 22 February 2025
  • Accept Date 05 April 2025

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