Notion (Notium) — Temple of Apollo at Claros Outpost
Νότιον · Notion · Notium · New Kolophon
Classical to Late Antiquity (500 BCE – 600 CE)·Aeolian Greek (Kolophonian) and Roman·🇹🇷 Izmir Province, Menderes, Ahmetbeyli, Turkey
About
About Notion (Notium) — Temple of Apollo at Claros Outpost
Aeolian harbour for Kolophon (4 km inland) controlling the Klaros oracle's port and the Cayster gulf, fortified with a 2-km circuit of ashlar walls and sea-gate mole. The 6×9 Doric Temple of Apollo (late 2nd c. BCE) on a N-S terrace served the Kolophonians after their inland city declined, alongside a Bouleuterion, agora and Hellenistic 2,500-seat theatre. Notion's unique northward temple orientation toward Kolophon rather than east reflects subordination to the mother city, while epigraphy of the Citizens of Kolophon Notion documents dual citizenship. The Klaros oracle 13 km north was administered via sacred way through Notion's port.
Why it mattersOnly Aeolian harbour-oracle port city displaying mother-city dependency in temple orientation; links Kolophon-Klaros sacred way to sea.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why temple faces north to Kolophon not east to sunrise
- 02Whether sacred way paved from Notion quay to Klaros adyton
Theories
- 01Political subordination expressed in architecture after sympoliteia
- 02Harbour Apollo protecting Klaros pilgrims arriving by sea
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Classical foundation c.500 BCE; Apollo temple late 2nd c. BCE
- Period
- Classical to Late Antiquity (500 BCE – 600 CE)
- Culture
- Aeolian Greek (Kolophonian) and Roman
- Builders
- Kolophonians establishing harbour of Notion
- Purpose
- Harbour sanctuary and port for Kolophon and Klaros oracle access
- Abandoned
- 6th c. CE with harbour silting
- Rediscovered
- 1907 Th. Macridy; 1921 French Sch. Athens excavations
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
500 BCE
Notion founded as epineion of Kolophon
130 BCE
Doric Apollo temple built N-S after Attalid euergetism
1921
French School uncovers bouleuterion and Apollo terrace
On the ground
Structures & features
37.9930° N · 27.1970° E · 40 m · 3 mapped features
Temple of Apollo Terrace
templeDoric 6×9 temple podium N-S orientation 14×26 m
37.9935° N · 27.1975° ETheatre and Agora
theatre2500-seat theatre and agora stoas by sea-gate
37.9925° N · 27.1965° EHarbour Mole and Walls
harbourSubmerged mole and 2-km circuit with sea gate
37.9940° N · 27.1960° E
Gallery