846. Shrines of Diana

Acts 19:24  •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 9
Listen from:
Acts 19:24. A certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen.
These shrines were miniature representations of the most sacred portion of the heathen temple; that part of it where the statue of the goddess was situated. They were made of wood or precious metal, and were worn as charms. A little door on one tide concealed the image of the goddess within. Roberts found a similar practice in India, where shrines of idols are often made in the shape of a temple and suspended from the neck of the wearer.
For a description of the temple represented by the shrines mentioned in the text, see the note on Acts 19:21 (#847).