Kyme Temple of Apollo — Aliağa Coastal Dune
Kyme Apollon Tapınağı · Cyme Apollo · Nemrut Kyme
Archaic to Roman·Aiolian Greek·🇹🇷 Izmir Province, Aliağa District, Nemrut Limanı, Kyme dunes, Turkey
About
About Kyme Temple of Apollo — Aliağa Coastal Dune
Largest Aiolian city Kyme (Cyme, 12 League chief, Hesiod's father's home, 8 km north Aliağa) on coastal dunes at Nemrut Limanı 38.824,27.059, harbour temple of Apollo 700 BCE archaic with Roman rebuild 2nd CE on mole, theatre 20k, harbour mole 600 m. Kyme claimed Amazons foundation; chief Aiolian port exporting wool and later Roman port for Pergamon grain. University Lagona excavations 1980s. Unlike hilltop Aigai, Kyme shows coastal Aiolian dune harbour siltation (Gediz) with ship shed ramps. UNESCO Tentative Aiolian Cities 2019. Petkim port encroachment risk. 30k city Roman peak.
Why it mattersAiolian chief harbour with Hesiod provenance and dune preservation, key for Gediz delta formation and Aiolian maritime economy.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Kyme vs Smyrna primacy
- 02Amazon foundation myth
Theories
- 01Dune burial as preservation vs destruction debate
- 02Gediz delta as harbour death laboratory
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.700 BCE Archaic Apollo; harbour mole Hellenistic 300 BCE
- Period
- Archaic to Roman
- Culture
- Aiolian Greek
- Builders
- Aiolian Kymeans and Pergamene kings
- Purpose
- Aiolian chief harbour controlling Gediz mouth and Pergamon grain fleet
- Abandoned
- c.1400 CE with Gediz siltation and Petkim silt
- Rediscovered
- 18th c. Chandler; 1980s Lagona
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
700 BCE
Apollo Archaic
300 BCE
Harbour mole
1980
Lagona excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
38.8240° N · 27.0590° E · 8 m · 2 mapped features
Kyme — Apollo Temple Harbour
harbour templeArchaic (700 BCE) Apollo sanctuary on harbour mole with later Roman temple, dunes
38.8250° N · 27.0600° EKyme — Theatre and Harbour Mole 600 m
harbour moleHellenistic theatre and 600-m harbour mole controlling Gediz mouth and Nemrut bay
38.8230° N · 27.0580° E