Apollo sanctuary

GENERAL

On the small peninsula of Palatia, north of Naxos Town, a sanctuary developed, probably from Protogeometric times. The main period of floruit was in Archaic times under the reign of the tyrant Lygdamis (third quarter of the 6th century).

The location of the sanctuary is coastal and can also be considered as urban. The divinity worshiped was most probably Apollo Delios.

The remains of the sanctuary include the foundations of the temple, with the huge door jambs restored (i.e. the modern toponym 'Portara'), as well as some architectural elements not in their original position.

MONUMENTS

THE TEMPLE

The Ionic temple is oriented West. Built of marble, it is divided into a pronaos, cella and opisthodomos. The cella is divided into three naves by a double row of four columns. The temple must have been surrounded by a pteron (6x12), doubled on the small sides (overall dimensions 59m x 20m).  The threshold level of the monumental entrance is 1,10m. higher than that of the cella. The difference between this level and the cella, could be associated with a detail of the worship, a ceremony intended to be seen by all. The temple was never completed, its construction was halted immediately after the end of the tyranny of Lygdamis, in 524 B.C. The huge main doorway with its monumental jambs is the only elevation preserved today: it consists of four monolithic elements and its dimensions are 3,6m. wide and 5,96m. high.

MOVABLE FINDS: VOTIVE OFFERINGS & CULT EQUIPMENT

Protogeometric and Geometric sherds under the Archaic temple suggest a previous religious use of the area.

RECORDS

Excavation Date: 1923, 1968-1970

Institution/Excavators: German Archaeological Institute/Welter G.-Gruben G.-Koenigs W.

Excavation Type: Systematic

REFERENCES

Primary Publications:

• Buschor B. 1929. Naxos, AM 54, 1929: 152, fig. 6-7
• Gruben G. & W. Koenigs 1968. Der Hekatompedos von Naxos, AA 1968: 693-717
• Gruben G. & W. Koenigs 1970. Der Hekatompedos von Naxos und der Burgtempel von Paros, AA 1970: 135-153
• Koenigs W. 1972. Beobachtungen zur steintechnik am Apollon-Tempel von Naxos, AA 1972: 380-385
• Welter G. 1924. Altionische Tempel : 1 Der Hekatompedos von Naxos, 2 Der altionische Tempel in Paros, AM 49, 1924: 17-25

Secondary Publications:

• Coldstream J.N. 1968. Greek Geometric Pottery, London: 172
• Gounaris A. 2005. Cult places in the Cyclades during the Protogeometric and Geometric periods : their contribution in interpreting the rise of the Cycladic poleis, Yeroulanou M. & M. Stamatopoulou (eds), Architecture and Archaeology in the Cyclades, papers in honour of J.J.Coulton, BAR 2005: 61, n° 27
• Gruben G. 2001. Griechische Tempel und Heiligtümer, München: 371-375
• Mazarakis Ainian A. 1997. From rulers’ dwellings to temples. Architecture, religion and society in Early Iron Age Greece (1100-700 B.C.), Jonsered (Studies in Mediterranean Archaeology 122): 330
• Philaniotou O. 2001. New evidence for the topography of Naxos in the Geometric period, in The two Naxos Cities : a Fine Link between the Aegean sea and Sicily, Costanza Lentini M. (ed), 14-30 June 2001 University of Athens, 6-31 July Archaeological Museum of the Island of Naxos, Palerme, 2001: 87
• Walter-Karydi E. 1972. Geometrische Keramik aus Naxos, AA 1972: 386-420
• Zaphiropoulou Ph. & M. Kreeb 1988 Naxos: Denkmäler und Museum, Athens, 1988: 14