Ambitions to be met

Column base from the second temple in Didyma, now in the Excavation House. Photo credit: Glenn Maffia
Column base from the second temple in Didyma, now in the Excavation House. Photo credit: Glenn Maffia

Text by our correspondent from Didyma, Glenn Maffia.

My previous two articles have afforded me to espouse upon the relatively minor, inexpensive, tweaks to the appearance around the Temple of Apollo which shall enable visitors to better appreciate the elegant antique architecture that stands as a symbol to this growing vacation resort. Namely, clean the graffiti, smarten the surrounding abodes and secure the perimeter walls, whilst also officially opening the Sacred Road to the public.

This work is outside the remit of both Didim and Aydın councils as, being an archaeological site, the area’s management falls directly under the umbrella of the Ministry of Culture. Our local Ministry of Culture is administered from Aydın, from where the director of this local branch visits Didim regularly. Credit to him.

I am a little surprised that he, or his officials, has not identified this ‘eyesore’ with some matter of concern at an earlier stage.

Are they conversing?

As a German archaeologist recently mentioned to me, “The GAI (German Archaeological Institute) have spent much time, effort and expense maintaining and cleaning the iconic columns of the temple, whilst the rest of the area looks like a dump”; especially to the inquisitive eyes, and cameras, of the ‘quick to judge’ foreigners.

Neither do I believe that such an operation shall impinge upon the archaeologist’s domain of keeping a site as pristine as is possible, whilst they endeavour to peel away the layers of time to reveal our human past.

I have written extensively about the tremendous finds in recent years (theatre, second temple and Hellenistic foundations), and personally, I feel that it is inevitable that there is substantially more beneath our feet as we walk around the site.

What I often ponder is whether there is any coherent plan formulated between the Ministry of Culture and the GAI? We simply do not know. What is sparingly apparent is that we do not, at this moment, even have a guidebook to inform visitors about the Didyma site in the shop attached to the entrance kiosk (I looked last week). Hardly inspiring a thirst for education in the breasts of our guests. Clearly, one party or another, or both, are not particularly doing anything exemplary in promoting this site.

Opportunist individuals

It is also far from clear if any definition of the completed project, or even a proposed vision, has been discussed between the above parties. Surely, there must be an objective in mind, which merges the academic interests and concerns with the commercial viability of promoting the site to the general public? One tends to observe a marketable aspect so glaringly prevalent in the more famous ancient sites (e.g. Ephesus) of this fabulously historically rich land. The country is akin to being a veritable open air museum, such is the glorious wealth of all its artefacts.

These, I am sure all shall agree, must be treasured and protected with the utmost care and sensitivity.

Unfortunately, we do possess a visible number of recidivists whom plunder these ‘treasures’ from antiquity, as has been reported extensively in various media outlets in an ever-growing occurrence during these economically pressing times. One can understand the motive herein, but not the irreparable damaging consequences, not only to history, but to their country.

The official arms of the law appear to have a far-reaching jurisdiction and an impressive success rate in apprehending these miscreants, though the reporting of any convictions is decided thin on the ground. I do so desire that such offences are not trivialized to a cursory ‘slap on the wrist’.

Too entwined

My personal view is that this external threat of outright theft is implicit in the Didyma site not being revealed into the public domain. Protecting the Temple of Apollo is one thing, and there is a watchman on duty every night. Though the ‘external’ (theatre, second temple, etc.) archaeological elements are too interwoven within the fabric of the village’s everyday life, leaving them vulnerable to the financially voracious. They are also geographically separated over disparate areas, which all but renders them impossible to police.

Obviously, this is a quandary that at this particular moment is complex to resolve. I cannot conceive of an amicable resolution between the opposite factions of palpable commercialism and preserving the integrity of history. Especially as the subject matter is not contemporary local history.

I perceive that this issue shall just be allowed to drift, and the second most important Oracle in history shall be confined into the desires of a historically indifferent local population.

My humble opinion is that they are spilling greater glories and an increase in affluence, in favour of a bucolic conservative inertia.

Tags: 

Image gallery: 

Sacred Road c. 1960's. Photo credit: unknown
Sacred Road c. 1960's. Photo credit: unknown
Sacred Road c.1960's. Local labourers under the supervision of the GAI. Photo credit: unknown
Sacred Road c.1960's. Local labourers under the supervision of the GAI. Photo credit: unknown
Foundations of the second temple. Photo credit: Glenn Maffia
Foundations of the second temple. Photo credit: Glenn Maffia
Excavation of the theatre. Photo credit: GAI
Excavation of the theatre. Photo credit: GAI