The Temple of Apollo at Didyma by night

Submitted by Admin on Wed, 05/15/2019 - 14:21

I was recently fortunate enough to be invited into the Temple precinct by one of the archaeologists after the area was closed to the public. Deep into the reaches of night the entire ambience was transformed into a hauntingly beautiful spectacle. No sound from the lively nightlife of the surrounding cafés penetrated into precinct and my imagination took flight.

A hint of optimism

Submitted by Iza on Fri, 05/10/2019 - 08:55

My constant burrowing and delving around the ‘protected' Temple [of Apollo in Didyma] archaeological site was last week rewarded. Not with any visual find, but with a verbal one.

Identifying priorities

Submitted by Admin on Sun, 09/23/2018 - 08:19

Text and photos by Glenn Maffia

It has been for well over a decade that the archaeological team, under the supervision of Professor Helga Bumke, has not only been uncovering the impressive finds within the vicinity of the Temple of Apollo in Didim, but also more arguably significant the continued ‘site management’ of the archaeological treasure.

The new building being erected in the 'protected area' of Didyma

Apollo’s Sacred Spring Bursts Forth

Submitted by Iza on Tue, 09/04/2018 - 14:04

Text and photos by Glenn Maffia

An exciting new development on the flooding of the southeast corner of the Temple’s precinct in Didim unfolded during late August and early September. I had spent many hours wandering around the site taking numerous photographs and obtaining measurements of the depth of the water. These were then relayed to my European contacts, which in turn were passed by them to specialists in the disciplines of geoarchaeology and hydrogeology. It wasn’t long before I received an answer which set me aflame with imagination and sheer delight.

Archaic terrace wall threatened by the reopened water course

An Aquatic Dilemma

Submitted by Iza on Wed, 08/29/2018 - 11:09

Text and photos by Glenn Maffia

From high expectations, my dreams fell upon that bleak reality that archaeology does not always deliver the promises formulated within the imagination. I guess that is just the ground we are working on, where disappointments are required to savour that sweetness that comes with an exhilarating find. And to be fair, here in Didim the archaeologists have been unearthing those exciting finds in abundance over the past decade. Snippets of information can also be gleaned from an anti-climax, which adds breadth to the reconstruction which is being attempted.