Alabanda Temple of Apollo Isotimos
Alabanda Apollon Isotimos Tapınağı · Alabanda Isotimos · Araphisar Alabanda
Hellenistic to Roman·Carian, Hellenistic, Roman·🇹🇷 Aydın Province, Çine, Araphisar village, Çine plain, Turkey
About
About Alabanda Temple of Apollo Isotimos
Carian inland metropolis Alabanda (founded 3rd BCE, Carian Labranda dialect 'horse victory') at Araphisar, Çine plain 37.591,28.032, famed for decadent lifestyle (Strabo) and Apollo Isotimos (Equal Honour) epithet unique to Alabanda. 6×12 Ionian temple c.200 BCE with 8 columns architraved overlooks agora-bouleuterion where Vitruvius notes Alabanda's 'flabby' Asiatic Corinthian. Theatre 15k, aqueduct 5 km. Edlund-Bayburt excavations 1905–. Unlike coastal Kaunos, Alabanda shows inland Carian urbanism controlling Çine marble and figs route to Alinda and Alabanda plain. Chrysaoric League capital.
Why it mattersChrysaoric federal temple with unique Isotimos epithet and Vitruvius architectural critique type site.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Isotimos meaning equal honour
- 02Asiatic Corinthian origin
Theories
- 01Inland Carian identity vs coastal Ionian
- 02Alabanda as decadence moral topos
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.200 BCE temple; city 3rd BCE foundation
- Period
- Hellenistic to Roman
- Culture
- Carian, Hellenistic, Roman
- Builders
- Chrysaoric League and Seleucid benefactors
- Purpose
- Chrysaoric League federal Apollo sanctuary controlling Çine plain marble and figs
- Abandoned
- c.600 CE after Arab raids
- Rediscovered
- 1705 Sherard; 1905 Edlund
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
200 BCE
Apollo Isotimos temple
1705
Sherard discovery
On the ground
Structures & features
37.5910° N · 28.0320° E · 120 m · 2 mapped features
Alabanda — Apollo Isotimos Temple platform (8 columns)
temple peristasis2nd-century BCE Ionian 6×12 Apollo Isotimos (Equal Honour) with 8 columns still standing to architrave
37.5920° N · 28.0330° EAlabanda — Assembly Agora Bouleuterion
bouleuterionHellenistic bouleuterion 800 seats with Apollo dedication inscriptions
37.5900° N · 28.0310° E