Alberta Fabbricotti (ed.), Intentional Destruction of Cultural Heritage and the Law: A Research Companion, Routledge, London–New York: 2024, pp. xxv + 451

On 21 July 356 BCE, an individual of obscure origins, known as Herostratus, deliberately set fire to the sacred Temple of Artemis in Ephesus.As a result, this monumental structure, revered as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, was reduced to rubble within hours.Upon his arrest and subsequent interrogation, Herostratus openly admitted to the act, disclosing that his primary motivation was the pursuit of notoriety.He was seeking kleos -glory -for having destroyed the sacred Temple of Artemis.Herostratus was executed for his sacrilege and his motives were deemed exceptionally disgraceful.Consequently, he was not only sentenced to death, but also prevented from fulfilling his aspiration for eternal glory.To ensure that Herostratus never achieved his professed goal of everlasting fame, he was sentenced to damnatio memoriae.His name and memory were condemned to eternal oblivion.It was henceforth forbidden to even mention the name of Herostratus. 1 However, this punishment was not executed with complete effectiveness, as the name of the arsonist remains known today.In contemporary usage, "herostratic" has come to describe individuals who commit heinous crimes in pursuit of notoriety.Particularly in the post-9/11 world, Herostratus has emerged as a prototype for terrorists seeking to shock the global public.While their primary targets are often innocent civilians, some also direct their attacks toward renowned monuments and cultural landmarks.A notable parallel can be drawn between the arson of the Temple of Artemis and the Taliban's destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan