DIANA
It is the Latin name of one of the main goddesses of the Greeks and Romans: the Greek name is “Artemis.”
An image of her was said to have fallen from the sky, or to have been carved from wood or ebony that had fallen from the clouds.
She was worshiped throughout Asia. Her temple was in Ephesus, built of choice marble. In the British Museum there is a Roman coin with a representation of the temple and the image of the goddess in the center (Acts 19:24-35).
Although Ephesus was in many respects an enlightened city, it was darkened by this fertility cult, and the excited populace could shout for two hours: “Great is Diana of the Ephesians.”
She was considered the goddess of the moon, tutelary deity of the fields, the forests, and all vital phenomena that were supposed to be influenced by the moon.