Didyma
By Slowtravelguide
When people visit Didim, the Apollo Temple is not necessarily the first thing people think about. They have other things in mind, like the beaches, shopping opportunities, and tempting nightlife.
If you like things a little bit more relaxed, you can easily forget the golden beaches and stroll around in Didyma and, besides the stunning Apollo Temple, visit the tiny streets of the old village.
Monumental Is A Good Word To Describe The Apollo Temple
There was already an oracular presence in Didyma where the Apollo Temple stands.
They reclaimed the place and turned it into a shrine for Apollo Philesios. The first Greek Temple appeared in the 8th century BC. It was a relatively small temple with a sacred area that was later enclosed with a collonade. The oracle almost became as crucial as Delphi. In 439BC, the original temple was destroyed by the Persians. When Alexander The Great arrived at Didyma, it was left in disrepair.
Sad Looking Medusa
In This Shot You Get A Good Idea Of The Monumental Dimensions Of The Columns
The Legend Of Didyma
According to the legend, the holy spring started to flow again after the arrival of Alexander The Great. The decision was made to rebuild the Temple as the largest in the Hellenistic world. Although they kept working in the Roman era, it was never finished, although Medusas were added.
Be assured, the Apollo Temple in Didyma is very impressive, even though a little smaller than the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus in its hey day, althouh it beats the Artemision easily if you visit the two nowadays.
A Lot Of Tortoises In Didyma
Staircase On The East Side Of The Apollo Temple In Didyma
72 Columns Impress At The Temple Of Apollo In Didyma
The Temple of Apollo sits in the authentic village of Didim, just outside Didim in the Yenihisar district. The temple is 120m long and 25m high and dominates its surroundings. You can only be impressed if you lay eyes on the Oracle. Originally there were 122 columns planned, but only 72 were built. Almost everything about this temple is monumental; the staircase, the still-standing columns and the walls. It stands out next to the small and modest village around it.
Columns In The Vestibule
When you climb the staircase, you arrive at the vestibule, where you will be stunned by the beautifully decorated columns. This way, you go to the inner courtyard, only accessible since the oracle is not in use anymore. Two 21 meter long tunnels will bring you there.
Oracle’s Office In Didyma
The inner courtyard, where the sacred spring was, is surrounded by high walls. To the north, a staircase takes you up to where once the Oracle’s office one was. The wisdom of the Oracle was put to paper here. It is known that the cellar was richly decorated with Medusas.
More Columns In Didyma
One Of The Two Impressive And Completely Intact Tunnels To The Cell
Winged Lion In The Cella At Didyma
What To Expect
How To Get There: Private or rental car (check the map below).
Nearest Airport: Bodrum Milas Airport.
Parking: Yes.
Terrain: Easy.
Stroller: Yes.
Entrance Fee: Yes (Museumpass is valid).
Facilities: Cafes, restaurants and shops around the site.
Best Time To Visit: All year, depending on the weather.
Medusa At Didyma
Stairway To The Cellar
Tablet With Inscriptions
Another Beautiful Artefact Inside The Inner Courtyard
A Sanctuary With A Board Game Carved Into The Floor
One of the stones used at Didyma has some patterns carved in it. This was an ancient board game called Duodecim Scripta or Ludus Duodecim Scriptorum. Similar tablets were found at Aphrodisias and Ephesus. The Latin name of this game means the Game of Twelve Inscriptions. Suppose you feel like trying it while you’re at Didyma. Try to find the stone. If you do, head to the rules of the game and get the historical background.
Picture Perfect Quaint Didyma
The Greek Church
Didyma; The Village Surrounding The Oracle
Don’t forget to take the time to discover the village surrounding the Apollo Temple. It’s lovely, and it’s home to a small Greek church (now a mosque) and some quaint stone houses and narrow streets.
Lovely View In Didyma
Practical Information
Visit the Apollo temple early in the morning or late afternoon; sunset, golden hour, makes the experience more magical. As a bonus, have dinner in one of the many lovely eateries overlooking the sanctuary for a perfect end of your visit.
Taking a tour of the temple and the village doesn’t take that long, so why not visit Miletus, which was connected to Didyma by a sacred road in the 6th Century BC.
If you have any questions about a place, feel free to ask. You can send us a message through our contact page, or leave a comment on our Instagram or Facebook pages.
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Places Nearby
Lake Bafa, where ancient site meets with village life (21 km)
Yediler Monastery, shocking traces of life (29 km)
Priene, Aristotle’s ideal city (31km)
Eski Doğanbey, a slice of paradise for nature lovers (27 km)
Miletus, a bit of history (16 km)
Places We Recommend
Laodicea
Laodicea is a fascinating and interesting ancient site. It lacks charm, but it makes up for that in scale, and thought-provoking reconstruction works. After all, this is an important ancient city that was reduced to ruins after a series of devastating earthquakes. (Read more)
Ephesus
Ephesus (or Efes) is part of the famous Turkey Triangle Tour which also takes you to other cultural attractions, such as Istanbul, Cappadocia and Pamukkale. It was once the capital of Roman Asia Minor, and its current status is as the most comprehensive classical metropolis in Turkey and Europe. (Coming soon)
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