Didyma Turkey, The Shrine of Apollo
Hidden among rolling hills only a few miles from the
scenic coast of southeastern Turkey, the ancient site of Didyma is famous from
legendary times. Here was a natural spring where the beautiful Leto is supposed
to have spent an hour of love with Zeus, then giving birth to the twins Artemis
and Apollo (didymoi in Greek). The most important oracle site in Asia Minor, its
pronouncements to Croesus, Alexander the Great and other great kings altered the
course of human history. This temple dedicated to Apollo was the richest and
biggest of the Ionian temples on Anatolian soil. It was to cover such a vast
area, that its construction lasted more than 150-200 years and yet it was
planned to be without ceiling. Before being plundered and burned by the Persians
(c. 494 BC), the sanctuary was in the charge of the Branchids, a priestly caste
named after Branchus, a favorite youth of Apollo. After the "Ionian Rebellion,
Alexander the Great conquered Miletus (334) and ordered its restoration and the
oracle was resanctified. The city administered the cult, annually electing a
prophet.
The temple was famous all over the Greek world for its oracles so that it even
surpassed the reputation of Delphi. The reason for which the harbor of Panamos
near Didyma became very busy and was visited by lots of commanders, ordinary and
respected people, is that they wanted to learn their future from the priests of
the temple. The oracle ceremonies were in two steps: the Pithy would first
comment the glitters on the waters of a well and then the priests would
translate these into literal and impressive words.
About 300 BC the Milesians began to build a new temple, intended to be the
largest in the Greek world. The annual festival held there, the Didymeia, became
Panhellenic in the beginning of the 2nd century BC. Excavations made between
1905 and 1930 revealed all of the uncompleted new temple and some carved pieces
of the earlier temple and statues. On the ruins of the VIth century BC temple, a
church was built during the Byzantine period. Though the ruins one can see
today, are of pre-Christian age.