CRGreathouse said:
Not according to pages 236 and 242 of the DMG.
Edit: The ELH never says that artifacts are made only by deities, either... it hints that some artifacts were made by the gods, but never even makes that much explicit!
What I said isn't explicitly stated word-for-wrord in the rules, but the wording of the rules does imply what I said to be true.
Plus, you're looking in the wrong book. What I'm talking about is from the ELH and Deities & Demigods.
Basically, deities can "Craft Artifact" which allows them to bypass all DMG limits.
Epic charatcer can "Craft Epic Items" which allows them to bypass the DMG limits.
Epic characters can't create Artifacts under any circumstance, because the ability is only available to deities. Deities could make Epic Items, but not if they can create Artifacts instead, especially since it is cheaper for a deity to make an Artifact of equal power to an Epic Item, because they don't have the "times ten" rule.
Thus, taking the above information, Deities & Demigods states that Artifacts are only made by deities, and ELH refers to Artifact-level Epic Items that are created by mortals.
The DMG has no place in the discussion, really, because all the rules are in the ELH and Deities & Demigods.