Emecik Apollo Sanctuary

"Greek tresures of a period of glory and power....."

AGELOS PAPADIMITRIOU

"Super"

Songül Akbulut

"It is a temple site dating back to the Archaic period, originating in the Knidos-Dorian period and one of the most important ancient cities in the Carian region.

Emecik Mountain (743 meters), which rises abruptly from the flat land at the end of the eastern plain of the Datça Peninsula, is part of a mountain range that extends from Marmaris and the interior of Caria to the western tip of the peninsula, rising over 1,000 meters above sea level.

Many artifacts from Datça and Emecik were sold to European art enthusiasts through the Greek art trade in Smyrna, while others were sent to the Istanbul Archaeological Museum.

A rescue excavation was carried out at the Apollon Sanctuary between 1998 and 2006 by the Middle East Technical University, under the leadership of the Marmaris Museum Directorate, on behalf of the Turkish Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with the German Scientific Research Council.

The worship, which likely began around this cave in early times, developed with the addition of various structures in the Archaic Period, culminating in the construction of a monumental temple in the Hellenistic Period, and continued with the construction of a church in the Early East Roman Period.

The Temple of Apollo at the Emecik Sanctuary, which experienced its heyday in the 7th and 6th centuries BC, was built in the Doric order. The first phase of the temple dates to the Archaic Period. However, the existing structure, which was significantly damaged by the construction of a church on top, dates to the Hellenistic Period. Within the temenos area, there is a cult cave, paved with stone blocks, and a sacred water spring.

The Hellenistic monumental structure unearthed was understood to be a traditional Doric temple with a peripteral plan, a stylobate of 6x11 columns, and a crepidoma of three crepis. Excavations on the upper terrace in 1999 unearthed a large basilica dating to the Early East Roman (Byzantine) Period. The basilica was converted into a small church during the Middle East Roman Period.

The ruins and rich finds unearthed during the excavation demonstrate the significance of the Sanctuary of Apollo for the archaeology of the Datça Peninsula. It has been understood that the lower terrace was used extensively for votive offerings as a ceremonial promenade, particularly during the Archaic Period, from at least the Late Geometric Period onward. The sanctuary was abandoned throughout the Classical Age, until the Hellenistic period.
It has been understood that the Sanctuary of Emecik/Sarıliman held international significance until the late 6th century BC. Excavations have unearthed imported wares of Egyptian, Phoenician, and Etruscan origin. Limestone and terracotta figurines, as well as pottery, previously known as East Greek but now proven to be Cnidian, display a rich variety. Written documents and valuable archaeological artifacts discovered at the sanctuary demonstrate the association of the Archaic Emecik Sanctuary with Apollo. The sacred site was used from the Late Geometric Period to the 12th century AD.

Archaeological finds from the excavations are exhibited in the Marmaris Archaeological Museum. The Hiero-Gamos rock-carved depiction is currently on display in front of the Datça Municipality."

Abdurrahim Vural