Herostratus was a young man who set fire to the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus (currently Turkey territory) in his quest for fame on July 21, 356 BC.

The Temple of Artemis in Ephesus was built of marble, and was considered the most beautiful of some thirty shrines built by the Greeks to honor Artemis, or Diana as she was known to the Romans. The temple was completed in about 550 B.C., and was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The Temple of Artemis was twice as large as the famous Parthenon in Athens, measuring 440 feet long and 260 feet wide.

Far from attempting to evade responsibility for this act of arson, Herostratus proudly claimed credit in order to secure his place in history. In order to dissuade similar-minded fame-seekers, the authorities, as well as executing Herostratus, decided to condemn him to a legacy of obscurity by forbidding mention of his name under the penalty of death. This harsh stipulation apparently did not preclude Herostratus from achieving his goal. The name of Herostratus has lived on in classic literature, and evolved into modern languages. In German, for example, "Herostrat" is an individual in constant pursuit of fame. The English term Herostratic fame, likewise, relates to Herostratus.