Temple Of Apollo

The sanctuary of prophecy and light

The Temple of Apollo rises just outside Didim, where legend meets stone. Built to honour the god of music, wisdom and foresight, it was once the second most important prophecy centre in the ancient world. Its scale is astonishing, with columns that frame the sky and stories carved into its very foundation. This is a place for quiet awe, where myth and memory still speak.

Apollo, who was believed to be a radiant god, has several meanings in Roman mythology. Meaning standing against evil or preventing evil, Apollo was also associated with his grandmother Phoebe.

The myth has it that one day the god Apollo came across Brankhos, a shepherd in Didyma.  He loved him so much and started to teach him the secrets of prophecy.  And the shepherd Brankhos built the first temple for Apollo right beside the bay forest and water source, where the Temple of Apollo is located today. As the time went on, the descendants of Brankhos started to be known as 'Brankhids', and ruled the Temple of Apollo for long years. 

Recognized as the biggest and most magnificent temple in the world by the ancient geographer Strabon, the Temple of Apollo is surrounded by 124 columns in two rows on a platform, which can be climbed by steps on all four sides. The temple is an iconic structure, which dates back to the Ancient Greek and Roman periods and was personally visited by many important rulers of the period, from Alexander the Great, who wanted to gain the grace and guidance of Apollo, to the Roman Emperor Diocletian.

The temple, a candidate to the UNESCO's World Heritage list, is the third largest temple in the world after the Temple of Artemis and the Temple of Heraion. The Temple of Apollo, one of the must-visit places in Didim during your vacation at Anda Barut Collection, is one of the best-preserved ancient temples. In the Temple of Apollo, which is 9 km from Anda Barut Collection, the giant columns and the Statue of Medusa, known as the protector of gods, are both worth seeing.