Alinda Temple of Apollo — Karpuzlu Hilltop Agora
Alinda Apollon Tapınağı · Alinda Apollon · Karpuzlu Alinda
Hekatomnid to Hellenistic·Hekatomnid Carian, Hellenistic·🇹🇷 Aydın Province, Karpuzlu District, Alinda hilltop 350 m, Turkey
About
About Alinda Temple of Apollo — Karpuzlu Hilltop Agora
Fortress hilltop city Alinda (Carian Alexandria ad Latmum) at Karpuzlu, 350 m above Karpuzlu plain 37.559,27.823, 30×15 m Apollo temple (2 columns anastylosed 2018) crowning the agora with 3 km Hellenistic walls — best Carian hilltop walls after Herakleia Latmos. Residence of exiled Queen Ada (sister of Mausolus) 340 BCE who welcomed Alexander, and mint of Hekatomnid satraps. Agora 60×40 m with Hellenistic stoas, theatre 5000 facing plain, aqueduct. Rumscheid 1997 Bonn surveys. Unlike valley Alabanda, Alinda is defensible peak controlling Çine-Karpuzlu pass to coast, with coinage showing Apollo laurel. Ada's palace terrace below temple.
Why it mattersHekatomnid mountain refuge typology with Queen Ada historical link and best hilltop Carian walls.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Alinda vs Alexandria ad Latmum name
- 02Ada palace identification
Theories
- 01Mountain refuge for Hekatomnid dynastic feuds
- 02Pass-control as inland vs coastal Carian strategy
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.350 BCE walls and Ada palace; Apollo temple 300 BCE
- Period
- Hekatomnid to Hellenistic
- Culture
- Hekatomnid Carian, Hellenistic
- Builders
- Ada and Hekatomnid dynasty; Alexander's Carian allies
- Purpose
- Mountain refuge capital for Hekatomnid royal women and Karidian pass control
- Abandoned
- c.600 CE
- Rediscovered
- 18th c. Chandler; 1997 Rumscheid survey
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
340 BCE
Ada exiled to Alinda
334 BCE
Alexander restores Ada
1997
Rumscheid Bonn survey
On the ground
Structures & features
37.5590° N · 27.8230° E · 350 m · 2 mapped features
Alinda — Apollo Temple 2-column Prostylos
temple prostylos2-column restored Apollo prostylos on agora edge with Hekatomnid terrace wall
37.5600° N · 27.8240° EAlinda — Fortress Agora 3-km walls
fortress agoraHellenistic ashlar walls 3 km encircling hilltop with agora and theatre 5000 seats
37.5580° N · 27.8220° E