Labraunda is the home of the Sanctuary of Zeus Labraundos and is located in the mountains overlooking the plain of Milas. It was one of the most important sanctuaries in Caria, especially in the 4th century BC when King Mausolus, the satrap of Caria, made Labraunda his family sanctuary.

Coordinates: 37° 25′ 8″ N, 27° 49′ 13″ E

The cult of Zeus Labraundos, whose attribute was the double-headed axe, probably originated in the 7th century BC at a spring just above the temple terrace. The site may have originally been chosen as a sacred place because of the presence of a rock looking as if it had been split in two by a thunderbolt.

Labraunda was situated on a rather steep slope, so the buildings were constructed on a series of five artificial terraces. It was linked to the city of Mylasa (modern Milas) by a 7.5 m wide, paved Sacred Way. A five-day-long sacrificial feast was celebrated here every year.

The remains, dating to the 5th century BC and 1st century AD, include the Temple of Zeus, two large andrones (ceremonial dining halls), two stoas, two Roman baths, several priests’ residences, and a nymphaeum.

PORTFOLIO

The Sanctuary of Zeus Labraundos, Labraunda, Caria, Turkey — The Sanctuary of Zeus Labraundos.

The ruins of the Temple of Zeus built in the 4th century BC.

The Temple of Zeus, built in the 4th century BC, Labraunda, Caria, Turkey — The Temple of Zeus, built in the 4th century BC.

The ruins of Andron B erected by Mausollos (377-352 BC), it had two Ionic columns and a Doric frieze with triglyphs. — The ruins of Andron B (banqueting hall) erected by Mausollos (377-352 BC), it had two Ionic columns and a Doric frieze with triglyphs.

The second banqueting hall (the so-called Andron A), presumably built by Idrieus (351-344 BC).

The North Wall of the Propylon area and the monumental staircase leading up from the entrance, Labraunda, Caria, Turkey — The North Wall of the Propylon area and the monumental staircase leading up from the entrance.

The Well-house with three low gneiss columns with simple Doric marble capitals, note the huge Split Rock in the background which may have been the inspiration for the establishment of the cult to the Carian sky god, Labraunda, Caria, Turkey — The Well-house with three low gneiss columns with simple Doric marble capitals, note the huge Split Rock in the background which may have been the inspiration for the establishment of the cult to the Carian sky god.

The ruins of the South Propylon, a gate building with high Ionic marble columns built by Idreus (351-344 BC).

The Oikoi Building built by Idrieus (351-344 BC), it possibly served as a Treasury, it had two rooms behind a marble portico with four doric columns.

The Temple Terrace, view from north-east, Sanctuary of Zeus Labraundos, Labraunda, Caria, Turkey — Overview of the Temple Terrace.

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May 2, 2016December 11, 2020 by followinghadrian Categories: Caria, Turkey 1 Comment

One thought on “Labraunda”

Thank you deeply.
You took me home, where my father, and my father’s father was born, for hundreds of years, till our family was driven out by the Turks, who took over our homelands after the fall of the Eastern Roman empire, 1450’s C.E.
I am a Greek, and came by accident to your photograph with the ruins left and right of a stone walk. I froze on my tracks. “I know this place”, I said to my self. So I visited you.
I was both elated and sad, seeing and remembering…
Elated of my past, proud of what the Greeks were once, and sad of what has become to most of them after they were brutally made into christian sheep.
So much destruction, so much death.
Thank you for the joy you brought to my heart through your travel, your efforts, and your breath-taking photographs.

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