Is a cult statue more than the sum of its parts?

Abstract Pliny asserted that the cult statue of Artemis Ephesia remained unchanged despite her sanctuary in Ephesus having undergone seven renewals. While some scholars concur with this view, others suggest the existence of multiple statues. This paper examines the history, materials, and structure of the cult statue by utilizing both material and textual sources. The primary inquiries are whether the sanctity of the cult statue is compromised by the replacement of its parts and how the contradiction regarding the existence of one or multiple statues can be resolved. In doing so, this study also reflects on how the statue's continuity contributed to the shaping of collective identity and the preservation of foundational tradition, both in Ephesus and in later contexts of Greek colonization.