Notion Apollo South Agora
Νότιον Απόλλων Νότια Αγορά · South Agora Notion · Notion Agora N
Archaic to Roman Imperial·Aeolian then Ionian (Notion as Colophon port)·🇹🇷 Izmir Province, Menderes District, Ahmetbeyli–Seferihisar coastal strip, Notion (Notium) south agora flank of Apollo colossal temple, Turkey
About
About Notion Apollo South Agora
South agora 65×45 m of the Ionian seaport city Notion (colony of Colophon controlling Claros), in the shadow of the 6×11 Doric peripteral Apollo Temple (6th–2nd c. BCE, Severan phase c.200 CE) whose 11 standing columns overlook the Aegean. The south agora's Hellenistic bouleuterion foundations (council house 19 m diameter) and Roman nymphaeum (Hadrianic, c.125 CE) marked the civic heart where Notion's Aeolian League delegates met, controlling maritime access to the Claros oracle 2.5 km inland. The agora's Roman paving preserves gaming boards and shop thresholds lining the sacred way to Claros.
Why it mattersCivic south agora of the Aegean port controlling the Claros oracle, with Hadrianic nymphaeum on the Aegean–Claros sacred way.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Notion vs Colophon–Notion synoecism debate
- 02Hadrianic nymphaeum water source
Theories
- 01Port–oracle economy linking Claros inland to Aegean
- 02Aeolian League delegate centre at Notion
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.600 BCE–200 CE (Archaic to Severan, with Hellenistic agora)
- Period
- Archaic to Roman Imperial
- Culture
- Aeolian then Ionian (Notion as Colophon port)
- Builders
- Colophon/Notion builders under Athenaeus and Hadrian
- Purpose
- Civic agora and nymphaeum of the port city controlling the Claros oracle, Aegean–Claros sacred-way station
- Abandoned
- Late Antiquity
- Rediscovered
- 1907 Wilhelm Notion–Colophon; 1922 Charbonneaux agora; 2014 CNRS–Izmir Notion harbour project
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.600 BCE
Notion founded as Colophon port
c.125 CE
Hadrianic nymphaeum construction
1907
Wilhelm Notion–Colophon topographic survey
On the ground
Structures & features
38.0050° N · 26.8500° E · 25 m · 2 mapped features
Notion South Agora — Bouleuterion Council House
bouleuterion19-m diameter bouleuterion foundation with tiered stone benches at south agora edge, Hellenistic
38.0060° N · 26.8510° ENotion South Agora — Hadrianic Nymphaeum Fountain
nymphaeum12×7 m Hadrianic nymphaeum with arched niches and Aegean limestone basin on agora south
38.0040° N · 26.8490° E
Gallery