Das Apollon Archegetes Heiligtum – The Sanctuary of Apollo Archegetes

Professor Mustafa Şahin has posted an off print, in German, from Cityscapes and Monuments of Western Asia Minor - Memories and Identities titled “Das Apollon Archegetes Heiligtum auf der Asar Insel bei Myndos” on academia.edu

Abstract

“Recent excavations on Asar Island, located by the harbour entrance of Myndos, have brought to light some interesting finds. These indicate that it was originally the site of a cult of Apollo Archegetes – a cult site dominated by a large altar. The altar, the nature of Apollo Archegetes, and Asar Island as an ever-present part of the cityscape for the inhabitants of  Myndos are discussed in this article. In addition, some of the interesting small finds from the excavations are highlighted to further illustrate the development of the site.”

Although there is no definitive date for the altar it is believed to have been erected during the mid 4th century B.C. during, or after, Mausolus’ synoecism of the Lelegian settlements, and that it was later refurbished or supplemented during the Roman Period.

During the later Christian development of the island, one side of the altar was incorporated into the construction of a water cistern.

A dedication discovered in 2013 identifies the altar as being dedicated to Apollo Archegetes with the suffix Archegetes suggesting that Apollo was seen as the founder or protector of the city.

The absence of any other buildings, on the island, dating from this period has led Prof Şahin to propose that the whole of the island may have been a sanctuary and the monumental, marble, architectural masonry found during the excavations may have been part of the propylon at the entrance to the sanctuary.

The paper also catalogues a number of architectural components, ceramic and figurative fragments found during the excavations, including pot sherds which pre-date the altar.

For details of the book see Cityscapes and Monuments of Western Asia Minor