Category: Caria

Lagina

Just a few kilometres away from Stratonicea lies the ancient cult site of Lagina, one of the most significant Carian sanctuaries. The establishment of the sanctuary at Lagina as a religious centre dates back to the Seleucid period, although evidence from the necropolis suggests that the settlement’s origins date back to the 7th century BC. An 11-kilometre-long road known as the Sacred Way connected these two sites.

Coordinates: 37° 22′ 42.83″ N, 28° 2′ 21.94″ E

The deity worshipped at the sanctuary was the goddess Hecate. She was the goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, the moon, ghosts and necromancy. In statuary, Hecate was often depicted in triple form, with three bodies or three heads. She was also associated with crossroads and entranceways. Numerous festivals were celebrated at the site, during which a procession delivered the temple’s key from Lagina to the bouleuterion in Stratonicea, where the rules for the religious celebrations of Hecate were inscribed.

The sculptural decorations that once adorned the temple are now displayed in the Archaeology Museum in Istanbul. These decorations covered all four sides of the building. They depicted various scenes, including episodes from Zeus’s life, the battle of the gods and giants (Gigantomachy), the legendary conflict between the Ancient Greeks and the Amazons (Amazonomachy), and scenes from Carian mythology.

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The Sanctuary of Hecate in Lagina, dated to the last quarter of the 2nd century BC, Caria, Turkey
The temple of Hecate stood in the centre of the sacred precinct. It was constructed in the 2nd century BC.
The architectural type of the Temple was pseudodipteral, in the Corinthian order, with a peristyle of 11 columns by 8.
The Corinthian columns of the Temple of Hecate.
The Sanctuary of Hecate in Lagina, dated to the last quarter of the 2nd century BC, Caria, Turkey
The paving of the peristyle in front of the Temple.
Corinthian column from the Temple of Hecate.
Corinthian column from the Temple of Hecate.
The Sanctuary of Hecate in Lagina, dated to the last quarter of the 2nd century BC, Caria, Turkey
The Sanctuary of Hecate.
The propylaea (monumental gateway) with a semicircular colonnade at the front, Sanctuary of Hecate in Lagina, Caria, Turkey
The propylaea (monumental gateway) with a semicircular colonnade at the front.
The propylaea (monumental gateway) with a semicircular colonnade at the front, Sanctuary of Hecate in Lagina, Caria, Turkey
A stairway with ten steps led from the propylaea to a paved way and then to the altar.
The stairway with ten steps leading from the propylaea to the Temple.
The precinct surrounding the temple was ca. 150 by 135 m. It was enclosed by a stoa in the Doric order, the S side of which was raised on a flight of 11 steps, with a staircase at the W end
The precinct surrounding the temple was ca. 150 by 135 m. It was enclosed by a stoa in the Doric order.
The south side of the Stoa was raised on a flight of 11 steps, with a staircase at the west end.
The south side of the Stoa was raised on a flight of 11 steps, with a staircase at the west end.
The temple of Hecate.
The temple of Hecate.

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Labraunda

Labraunda is the site of the Sanctuary of Zeus Labraundos, situated in the mountains that overlook the Milas plain. It was one of the most significant sanctuaries in Caria, particularly during the 4th century BC when King Mausolus, the satrap of Caria, made Labraunda his family’s sanctuary.

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

Labraunda

The cult of Zeus Labraundos, known for its double-headed axe symbol, likely originated in the 7th century BC near a spring located just above the temple terrace. This site may have been selected as a sacred location due to the presence of a rock that appears to have been split in two by a thunderbolt.

Labraunda was located on a steep slope, which led to the construction of the buildings on a series of five artificial terraces. It was connected to the city of Mylasa (modern Milas) by a 7.5-meter-wide paved Sacred Way. Every year, a five-day sacrificial feast was celebrated at Labraunda.

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

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

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 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 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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