Apollo and Didyma Apollo Temple

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11 Feb 2024

Who is this Apollo?

Despite being a Greek god, some linguists suggest that Apollo's name is not originally Greek and that his real name is Apello, derived from the verb meaning "to ward off evil." The birth of Apollo is mentioned in the opening lines of Homer's Iliad as "the son of Leto and Zeus" and "born to the beautiful-haired Leto." Apollo was born from the union of Zeus and Leto, and he has a twin sister, the goddess of childbirth, Artemis. According to mythology, Leto gave birth to Artemis first, but she lacked the strength to deliver Apollo. Artemis, born just before her brother, acted as a midwife to her mother and assisted in Apollo's birth.

Apollo - Apollo

We often see Apollo depicted with laurel leaves on his head. The reason behind this is quite romantic. Apollo falls in love with a maiden named Leto, one of Artemis's priestesses, and desires to marry her. However, Leto refuses, and she pleads with Artemis to protect her. Artemis transforms Leto into a laurel tree. Apollo, saddened by the fate of such a beautiful girl, takes a laurel branch, places it on his head, and crowns himself. During sacred days dedicated to Apollo, young men and women wave laurel branches, evoking the memory of Daphne.

Gods Get Angry

One of the most recounted myths is the story of King Midas and his donkey ears. Pan, the god of the wild, challenges Apollo in a musical contest. Apollo invites him to a competition, saying, "We want to see young talents like you on the stage." King Midas is chosen as the judge. Pan plays his flute and enchants everyone, but when Apollo starts playing his lyre, he wins everyone's favor. When it comes to the final decision, King Midas chooses Pan. Apollo becomes furious, declaring that Midas doesn't understand music, and turns Midas's ears into donkey ears, saying, "Only donkey ears suit someone who doesn't understand music."

What Do Your Eyes See, Apollo?

One of Apollo's prominent abilities is his gift of prophecy. He has the power to see the future. No one would take significant steps without consulting Apollo first. People would visit the Temple of Apollo, offer sacrifices, and receive guidance based on the answers obtained. However, these prophecies were never delivered with absolute certainty. King Croesus of Lydia asks for a prophecy before attacking the Persians. The Oracle of Apollo responds vaguely, saying, "In the war's outcome, a great kingdom will fall." Croesus is delighted, thinking he will defeat the Persians, but in the end, he himself is defeated.

Apollo's House: Didyma Apollo Temple

Our journey now takes us to the Didyma Apollo Temple. According to legend, Apollo encounters a shepherd named Branchus in the Didyma region and becomes fond of him. Apollo imparts the secrets of prophecy to Branchus, and the shepherd, in turn, establishes the first temple dedicated to Apollo near the laurel grove and spring. Over time, the descendants of Branchus, known as the "Branchidae," took charge of the Apollo temple for a long period. Didyma is known as both "Didyma" and the "Land of Branchidae."

Didyma is not an ancient city but a sacred site connected by the sacred road from Miletus. The first phase of Sacred Didyma concludes with the Persians seizing Miletus and destroying the temple. In 494 BC, after the Battle of Lade, the Persians plundered and took the statue of Apollo, made by "Canachus," to Ecbatana in Iran. With Alexander's arrival, a revival occurs, and under the command of Alexander's general Seleucus, construction of the temple, seen in ruins today, begins around 300 BC. Additionally, Seleucus retrieves the Apollo statue made by "Canachus" from Ecbatana.

Didyma Apollo Temple

**Up until the time of Marcus Aurelius, this temple enjoyed many splendid years. However, it began to decline in the 3rd century AD. In 262 AD, due to the threat of the Goths, this sacred place was turned into a fortress. According to an inscription found, those inside the temple ran out of water. Apollo, in response, caused a spring to emerge in the sacred place. Most likely, this spring is the sacred fountain inside the Naiskos (small shrine). In the Byzantine era, a church was built within the temple.

Before the Persian invasion, the dimensions of this Ionian-style temple were 85x35 meters, featuring the dipteral plan, the largest temple plan in ancient Greece, with 112 columns. However, the dimensions of the temple we see today are approximately 109x51 meters. Nevertheless, due to wars and pillaging, the construction of the temple, which continued for hundreds of years, was never completed. Signs carved into the temple walls regarding payments to the workers are still visible today. According to some sources, if the Apollo temple could have been completed, it could have been one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

How Were Oracles Made?

Now let's delve into what was done in this temple and how oracles were made. There were essential elements for prophecies. Omphalos: It signifies the center of the world. They say a meteor fell on the Delphi Apollo temple, and it became accepted as the world's center. It is present in every Apollo temple. Astragalos (Knucklebone): Numbers were inscribed on the four corners of Astragalos, each associated with a deity. Dice were rolled, and the rolled number was linked to a specific god. One crucial element was water. Priests could see the future by observing water. They entered a trance using gases and laurel leaves, then read the future through water divination.

Didyma Apollo Temple

Suppose I want a prophecy and let's say I am someone with a heavy wallet. First, I head to the sacred road connecting the city to the temple. However, I cannot enter the sacred road without cleansing. After cleansing, I enter the sacred road and head towards the temple. Let's say I bring a bull as an offering. Before reaching the temple, there are gift shops surrounding it. I buy a small figurine from one of these shops and offer it to the temple along with the bull. The oracle would fast for three days before making a prophecy. During those three days, I stay in hotels around the temple. Most likely, someone would come and inquire about my concerns. They would listen to my issues, quickly inform the priest, who would then identify me, tell me what to ask, and I would be deeply affected.

When the time for the sacrifice arrived, they would take the bull I brought to the altar. The priest would gaze at the sky and deliver the first blow with the knife. Since the knife became tainted, he would cast it into the stream. He would keep the most valuable parts, such as the skin and the tastiest meat, for himself, distribute the rest to the people, and begin to enter a trance. Chewing laurel leaves, listening to lyres, he would lose himself. At the end of it all, he would provide me with an open-ended answer and send me on my way.

Let's Have a Laugh...

If it's the year 78 AD, and I ask, "I want to buy a house in the Vesuvius mountains, should I?" I would most likely be told, "It will be very hot there next year." I would happily buy the house immediately. However, in 79 AD, during the Pompeii disaster, I might die from the volcanic eruption and the heat.

Today, we took a brief look at Apollo and Apollo cults. Until next time,

Stay healthy!

References:

Robert Krugmann - God of Light and Illumination Apollo
Sedat Akkurnaz - Hellenistic Era Architecture

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