Didyma
A grand oracular sanctuary of Apollo near Miletus, home to one of the largest temples ever built in the ancient world.
The Story of Didyma
Didyma — "the twins" in Greek, possibly referring to Apollo and Artemis — housed an oracle that rivalled Delphi in importance for the Ionian Greek world. A sacred spring within the temple's inner court fed the prophetic ritual; the prophetess would inhale its vapours or dip her feet in it before speaking. The temple of Apollo at Didyma was so enormous it was never finished — construction continued for over five centuries. When the Persians sacked Miletus in 494 BCE, they carried the cult statue to Persepolis; Alexander the Great later returned it after conquering Persia.
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Fun Fact
The temple at Didyma had 120 columns, each 19 metres tall — only three still stand, but they remain among the most impressive Greek ruins in Turkey.
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