"Great is Diana of the Ephesians"

[Toby Frost]

After a while of reading almost any lengthy argument on the internet, I always end up thinking of the phrase "Great is Diana of the Ephesians". I remember it to mean that there was once a city called Ephesia, where you could say or write anything so long as it expressed the idea that Diana, their god, was great. In other words, you were technically given free rein, but just ended up making the same point over and over again no matter the circumstances.

The thing is, I can't remember seeing this expression used anywhere else, and I can't work out if my subconscious has somehow made it up. Does this ring a bell with anyone else, or am I losing the plot?

 

[thaddeus6th]

Hmm. Wasn't the Temple of Artemis (Diana being the Latinised version of her name), one of the wonders of the ancient world, in Ephesus?

If so, that'd lend credence to your suggestion.

 

[Ray McCarthy]

It's in the Bible
I recognised it. But confess I had to search.

Acts 19:28

... 27 "Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence." 28 When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" 29 The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia.…

Artemis = Diana, some translations have Diana.

But I think it was a famous expression. No doubt Luke (who wrote Acts) probably used the standard Greek phrase, but I'm only guessing.

Wasn't the Temple of Artemis [=Diana] in Ephesus

Yes it was.

 

[Parson]

Diana arose when the Bible was being translated into Latin. Diana is the Roman goddess equivalent of Artemis. The city of Ephesus was a notably open society, but I doubt you could say that "anyone could say anything." The reason for this "riot" was that Christianity was making so much headway in Ephesus that some of the silver workers who made a good share of their living selling silver statues of Artemis for the "tourist" trade thought that their business was in danger. (Surely, not true) and so they started crying "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians." Diana is the King James translation which was largely based on the Latin Vulgate Bible.