Dydma, Turkey
All About Dydma…
Didyma was an ancient Ionian sanctuary, which is known today as Turkey, Didim. It was the most famous oracle of the Hellenic world contains a temple and oracle of Apollo. Branchidae mythical genealogy and the line of priests, to describe the origins of Didyma as the Hellenistic tradition, the date from the Hellenistic period.
didyma
With many myths, it was thought that Dydimaion name meaning “twin temples” or “temple of twins” have been associated with Artemis was the twin sister of Apollo. But this theory has remained a myth, because there is no concrete evidence could be found. In addition, it has been proved that this theory was true during excavations in recent years with the intensification of work on “Sacred Road” connecting Miletus and Didyma, and find the location of the cult of Artemis. The two temples built twin brother and sister, and Artemision Didymaion represents the origin of the name Didyma. Mother goddess Cybele was closely linked to Apollo and Artemis. From prehistory Cybele was a very important place in Anatolia. Different cultures and sites, Cybele had various names and epithets. The most used was one of those Dindymus resulting Dindymus several months, which is remarkable for its name Dydime.
Didyma Meaning
Didyma is a small village near the sea and praised by tourists and Turks on holiday to golden sandy beaches. The sea is not the only attraction for tourists, especially the remains of the famous Temple of Apollo, a shining example of architecture of the greek-roman period, and the indicator is the size of this region an excellent culture and art. Even before the arrival of ions, Difyma was a holy place and the oracle was much feared and much more presence. Persian King Xerxes destroyed the temple in 480 BC and looted several sculptures, and also removes the largest Ministry of Finance, which amount was due to the generosity of Croesus, king of Lydia.
Where is Dydma ?
Didyma is in the boundaries of the village of Yeni Hisar in Soke district of the province of Aydin where the splendid temple of Apollo is located.
The sanctuary linked to Miletus by Milesians with a 19 kilometer (12 miles) sacred road.
History of Dydma
Alexander the Great decided to rebuild the Temple after the victory of the Persians who had never completely finished, and was still in progress under the Romans, probably due to its enormous size (one hundred twenty meters long and 24 meters wide). Christianity put an end to pagan rituals and celebrations in the temple and prevented it from being completed. In fact, one in the hall of the temple was built in basil.
Traces remain the base of the temple and Ionic columns of twenty-three feet, still standing, the original one hundred and twenty. There are also stones from the altar of sacrifice and an old fountain. The inner courtyard, the atrium and the steps that lead to tabernacle everyone can identify. All around there are fragments of these statues at the head of Medusa with snakes for hair and teeth for teeth, as it was transformed by Athena. In front of the temple there is a transition from one stage of the second century BC, where games were held Apollo holidays. A long way to lead Sacred columns frames of Miletus in the sanctuary.
dydma temple, dydma turkey
The foundation of the temple was rectangular in shape, similar to most temples at the time. Unlike other shrines, however, the building was made of marble, with a decorated façade overlooking a spacious courtyard. There were 127 columns in total, aligned perpendicular to the surface of the whole platform area, except for the central cella or house of the goddess. Marble steps surrounding the platform, led to the high terrace which was approximately 80 m (260 ft) 130 m (430 ft) in the plane. The columns were 20 m (60 ft) high with Ionic capitals and carved circular sides.
The temple served as both a marketplace and a religious institution. For years, the sanctuary was visited by traders, tourists, artisans, and kings who paid tribute to the goddess to share their profits with her. Recent archaeological excavations at the site revealed gifts from pilgrims including statuettes of Artemis in gold and ivory … earrings, bracelets and necklaces … artifacts from as far away as Persia and India.