John Turtle Wood
Encyclopedia
John Turtle Wood was a British
architect, engineer and archaeologist.
, the son of John Wood of Shropshire and his wife Elizabeth Wood, née Turtle. He was educated at Rossall School
, Fleetwood, and later studied architecture, under private tutors, at Cambridge and Venice. He practised architecture in London from 1853 to 1858. In 1853, he married his cousin, Henrietta Elizabeth Wood.
In 1858, Wood received a commission to design railway stations for the Smyrna and Aidin Railway in Turkey. Here he became interested in the remains of the temple of Artemis
(Artemision) at Ephesus
, which had completely disappeared from view about 500 years previously. The Temple was important on account of its mention in the New Testament, when St Paul was shouted down by the mob, chanting “Great is Diana of the Ephesians”. (Acts 19:34)
In 1863, he relinquished his commission and began the search. The British Museum
granted him a permit and a small allowance for expenses in return for the property rights in any antiquities he might discover in Ephesus.
In 1867, while excavating in the theatre of Ephesus, Wood found a Greek inscription, which mentioned various gold and silver statuettes, which, on festive occasions, were carried from the temple
, through the Magnesian gate, to the theatre. He reasoned that at the Magnesian gate, there would be found a paved road leading to the temple. In 1867, he found the road and, following its track, discovered the wall of the temple. He proceeded to excavate
the site and, on 31 December 1869, discovered the temple buried beneath 20 feet of sand.
Sadly, the temple was no more than wreckage, but Wood managed to recover a quantity of shattered sculptures and architectural items to be sent to the British Museum. In 1874, his health was as devastated as the debris of the temple site. He had endured fever, bandits, earthquakes, and injuries and endured summer heat and cold winters. He returned to London and spent his remaining years giving occasional lectures to the Royal Institution and publishing Discoveries at Ephesus. In his spare time he painted in oils and occasionally exhibited at the Royal Academy.
Wood was lionised as the discoverer of Ephesus. In 1874, he was elected a fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects, and in 1875 as a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. The British government awarded him a pension of £200 per annum in recognition of his discoveries.
Wood died on 25 March 1890, at his home at 66 Marine Parade, Worthing
, Sussex BN11 3QB, and was buried at Christ Church
in Worthing.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
architect, engineer and archaeologist.
Biography
Wood was born at HackneyLondon Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
, the son of John Wood of Shropshire and his wife Elizabeth Wood, née Turtle. He was educated at Rossall School
Rossall School
Rossall School is a British, co-educational, independent school, between Cleveleys and Fleetwood, Lancashire. Rossall was founded in 1844 by St. Vincent Beechey as a sister school to Marlborough College which had been founded the previous year...
, Fleetwood, and later studied architecture, under private tutors, at Cambridge and Venice. He practised architecture in London from 1853 to 1858. In 1853, he married his cousin, Henrietta Elizabeth Wood.
In 1858, Wood received a commission to design railway stations for the Smyrna and Aidin Railway in Turkey. Here he became interested in the remains of the temple of Artemis
Temple of Artemis
The Temple of Artemis , also known less precisely as the Temple of Diana, was a Greek temple dedicated to a goddess Greeks identified as Artemis and was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was situated at Ephesus , and was completely rebuilt three times before its eventual destruction...
(Artemision) at Ephesus
Ephesus
Ephesus was an ancient Greek city, and later a major Roman city, on the west coast of Asia Minor, near present-day Selçuk, Izmir Province, Turkey. It was one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League during the Classical Greek era...
, which had completely disappeared from view about 500 years previously. The Temple was important on account of its mention in the New Testament, when St Paul was shouted down by the mob, chanting “Great is Diana of the Ephesians”. (Acts 19:34)
In 1863, he relinquished his commission and began the search. The British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
granted him a permit and a small allowance for expenses in return for the property rights in any antiquities he might discover in Ephesus.
In 1867, while excavating in the theatre of Ephesus, Wood found a Greek inscription, which mentioned various gold and silver statuettes, which, on festive occasions, were carried from the temple
Temple
A temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...
, through the Magnesian gate, to the theatre. He reasoned that at the Magnesian gate, there would be found a paved road leading to the temple. In 1867, he found the road and, following its track, discovered the wall of the temple. He proceeded to excavate
Excavate
The excavates are a major kingdom of unicellular eukaryotes, often known as Excavata. The phylogenetic category Excavata, proposed by Cavalier-Smith in 2002, contains a variety of free-living and symbiotic forms, and also includes some important parasites of humans.-Characteristics:Many excavates...
the site and, on 31 December 1869, discovered the temple buried beneath 20 feet of sand.
Sadly, the temple was no more than wreckage, but Wood managed to recover a quantity of shattered sculptures and architectural items to be sent to the British Museum. In 1874, his health was as devastated as the debris of the temple site. He had endured fever, bandits, earthquakes, and injuries and endured summer heat and cold winters. He returned to London and spent his remaining years giving occasional lectures to the Royal Institution and publishing Discoveries at Ephesus. In his spare time he painted in oils and occasionally exhibited at the Royal Academy.
Wood was lionised as the discoverer of Ephesus. In 1874, he was elected a fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects, and in 1875 as a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. The British government awarded him a pension of £200 per annum in recognition of his discoveries.
Wood died on 25 March 1890, at his home at 66 Marine Parade, Worthing
Worthing
Worthing is a large seaside town with borough status in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, forming part of the Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton conurbation. It is situated at the foot of the South Downs, west of Brighton, and east of the county town of Chichester...
, Sussex BN11 3QB, and was buried at Christ Church
Christ Church, Worthing
Christ Church and its burial grounds in Worthing, England, were consecrated in 1843 by the Bishop of Chichester, Ashurst Turner Gilbert, to meet the need for church accommodation for the poor. Built by subscription between 1840 and 1843, the Church was initially regarded as a chapel of ease to St...
in Worthing.