Temple of Apollo found in Turkey
Submitted by Selim Sancaktar Date: 01 Jan 2003
The long awaited news in the archaeological world over the finding of the Great Temple of Apollo came from Pamukkale in Turkey.
Excavations at the ancient city of Hierapolis near the famed travertines of Pamukkale in south west Turkey have determined the location of the Temple of Apollo that had previously been referred to in inscriptions unearthed at the site.
Led by a team of Italian academics who have been working on the site for half century, the archaeologists announced that they have found the temple. Earlier this year, the team had announced the site that they thought was the Temple of Apollo was a center of oracles.
The head of the excavation team, Professor Dr. Francesco D'andria, said some parts of the temple, light such as the four terraces, will be brought to this year but that the rest of the temple would be uncovered next year. In the excavations this year, priceless inscriptions detailing the prophecies of the oracles, and the services they provided, were unearthed.
During the month long excavation this year, the team also unearthed a statue of the God Attis and the restoration of a statue of the famous philosopher Socrates was completed.
The city of Hierapolis in times pre-dating the Christian faith in Anatolia was renown as the gate to hell.
