Gnu - There was a man in ancient times who burned down one of the most sacred temples in Asia Minor, the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world.


The "Croesus" Temple (of Artemis) was destroyed on July 21, 356 BC, probably very soon after its completion, in a vainglorious act of arson: one Herostratus set fire to the roof-beams, seeking fame at any cost, thus the term herostratic fame.

Herostratus planned the burning of the temple of Ephesian Diana so that through the destruction of this most beautiful building his name might be spread through the whole world.[11]

The Ephesians, outraged, sentenced Herostratus to death and forbade anyone from mentioning his name, under pain of death. However, Theopompus later noted the name.[12] The burning supposedly coincided with the birth of Alexander the Great; Plutarch[13] remarked that Artemis was too preoccupied with Alexander's delivery to save her burning temple.

There you have the level of mentality of someone who would steal a sacred relic...whether for money or for fame.