Sanctuary of Apollo Smintheus
Smintheion
Turkey · Çanakkale
In brief
The sanctuary in Gülpınar is known for its temple dedicated to the cult of Apollo Smintheus. Traces of a Chalcolithic settlement dated to approximately 5000 BC are being investigated at the site alongside Hellenistic and Roman-period buildings.
What was found?
- 1Temple of Apollon Smintheus
Built in the Ionic order, the temple dates to around 150 BC. Its architectural remains show how the sanctuary was organized during the Hellenistic period.
- 2Reliefs depicting scenes from the Iliad
The temple's friezes feature mythological scenes from the Trojan War recounted in the Iliad. The reliefs document how the epic narrative was incorporated into temple architecture.
- 3Bath buildings
Excavations uncovered the remains of baths associated with the temple. These show that construction around the sanctuary covered an area extending beyond the temple.
- 4Sacred way and houses
The sacred way and remains of houses are among the other structures identified during excavations. Considered together, they provide evidence of the site's transport and settlement layout.
- 5Chalcolithic settlement remains
Traces of a prehistoric settlement dated to 5000 BC were found in the sanctuary. These remains reveal a settlement history in the area far older than the temple.
What does it point to?
The temple reliefs show that mythological narratives were a visible part of religious architecture. According to the excavation project's explanation, Apollon Smintheus's role as a protector of farmers against mice indicates the cult's connection with agricultural concerns.
What did it teach us?
- Documented the use of narratives from the Iliad in the relief programme of a Hellenistic temple.
- Enabled the sanctuary to be investigated together with its temple, baths, street and houses.
- Showed that a Chalcolithic settlement existed in the same area thousands of years before the Hellenistic sanctuary.
Record
- Culture
- Chalcolithic western Anatolia; Ancient Greek and Roman
- First modern dig
- 1866
- Team / historical
- Davut Kaplan / Ondokuz Mayıs University
- Coordinates
- 39.5362°, 26.1178°
Sources
- ark-itbf.omu.edu.tr
- dosim.ktb.gov.tr
- acikerisim.comu.edu.tr
- en.wikipedia.org
- Çanakkale İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü — Apollon Smintheus Ören Yeri
Nearby excavations
- Assos 20 km
- Alexandria Troas 24 km
- Troy 48 km
- Pergamon 102 km
- Sanctuary of the Great Gods at Samothrace 118 km
- Parion 127 km
- —
- —
- 12.000
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