Description of the attraction
Since ancient times, this place was the sanctuary of Apollo. Later, the Ionic Temple of Apollo was built. It was a grandiose structure, at one time not inferior in luxury to the temple of Artemis at Ephesus, and as famous as the sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi. Only the priests of this temple lived in Didim. Once every four years, they held festivities in honor of this god with sports competitions and musical performances.
In the 5th century BC. the temple was destroyed by the Persians, but under Alexander the Great it was decided to restore and expand it. But the temple was never completed, and later the Byzantines stole almost all the marble. Only three large columns and a mass of small stones remained.
The expressive relief on the stone depicting the head of the Gorgon Medusa is world famous.
