July 21

Built around 550 BC, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was a grand marble structure dedicated to the Greek goddess of fertility. On July 21, 356 BC, a local man named Herostratus set fire to the temple in an act of arson intended to immortalize his name. The fierce blaze destroyed most of the temple, leaving behind only the platform and few carved fragments. The event horrified the ancient world and led to strict laws banning the mention of the arsonist's name, an early example of damnatio memoriae. Although the temple was later rebuilt on a more magnificent scale, none of the priceless artworks from the original survived. The destruction of the Temple of Artemis remains a stark reminder of cultural loss and the perils of seeking fleeting fame.

On 21 July 1979, Jay Silverheels, a member of the Mohawk Nation, was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, becoming the first Native American actor to receive this recognition. Born Harold Jay Smith in Canada, he rose to fame portraying Tonto in the popular television series The Lone Ranger from 1949 to 1957. His star is located at 7018 Hollywood Boulevard, celebrating his contributions to film and television. Silverheels was one of the few Indigenous performers in early Hollywood and used his platform to advocate for more authentic Native American representation. Over his career, he also worked as a screenwriter, stuntman, and artist. His Walk of Fame star remains a symbol of progress for Indigenous artists in the entertainment industry.

Greta Gerwig's 'Barbie' and Christopher Nolan's 'Oppenheimer' premiered on the same day, July 21, 2023. Despite their vastly different genres—one a whimsical fantasy, the other a serious biographical thriller—audiences embraced both films. Social media quickly transformed the unlikely pairing into the 'Barbenheimer' phenomenon, with memes and joint screenings. The buzz boosted box office performance for both movies and created a unique pop culture event. Viewers enjoyed contrasting themes of identity, ambition, and societal expectations in a single cinema outing. The trend highlighted the power of community engagement and the internet in redefining moviegoing experiences.