Recent update on the archaeology of Didyma

Submitted by Iza on Wed, 05/03/2023 - 16:40

Text and photos by our correspondent from Didyma, Glenn Maffia.

It was an immense pleasure to welcome a friend of many years back to Didyma last weekend. His absence had been necessitated by the Covid pandemic and then other work commitments, but after four long years his arrival was most welcomed and the conversation flowed as if there had been no interruption.

Cementing ancient truths, not a questionable future

Submitted by Iza on Tue, 04/04/2023 - 13:53

Text by our correspondent from Didyma, Glenn Maffia.

Native archaeologists appear to possess a particular predilection in rebuilding ancient sites. Probably at the behest of transient politicians whose belligerent insistence in procuring touristic revenues are in stark contrast to historical enquiry.

Contrary to perceived opinion, regularly espoused, I have absolutely no qualms about visitors arriving in this historically wealthy land, the crossroads of a multitude of civilisations.

The concrete restoration of Apollon Smintheion temple in Gülpınar

Tall stories upon a shallow shore

Submitted by Iza on Thu, 02/09/2023 - 18:16

Text by our correspondent from Didyma, Glenn Maffia.

As one can imagine, I do have somewhat of a luxury in that the subject matter of my columns, the ancient past, generally affords me to escape the rigours of reporting current news. Well, almost. Sometimes a snippet of current news does occasionally leap the divide of the millennia.

Gate of Mazeus and Mithridates in Ephesus

Plucking from the garden of history

Submitted by Iza on Thu, 02/02/2023 - 16:57

Text and photos by our correspondent from Didyma, Glenn Maffia.

Following on from my previous article (Apollo on my mind), I believe that it may be necessary, even prudent, to qualify some of the evidence which I proffered therein.

Most notably the abject attitude of some local people towards this incredibly rich vein of historical artefacts which are seemingly endless in their historical scope, the innumerable disparate peoples and cultures, the endless number of belief systems which were active over so many millennia and the sheer diversity within this landmass which once was, without doubt, the ‘crossroads of the earth’.

Apollo on my mind

Submitted by Iza on Tue, 01/24/2023 - 12:18

Text by our correspondent from Didyma, Glenn Maffia.

Just prior to Christmas, I received a number of communications from my sources within Europe concerning the future of investigations into the Temple of Apollo at Didyma. Nothing concrete, you must understand, but nonetheless intriguing in the way that such archaeological tenets are being evolved, or rather dissolved, by the principle institutions engaged in this highly valuable and crucial work.