Mysteria
Verified37.3750° N · 28.0370° E · 220 m

Stratonikeia Hekate Temple — Lagina Sanctuary of Hekate

Lagina Hekate temple · Temple of Hecate

Hellenistic to Roman (200 BCE – 250 CE)·Seleucid foundation to Rhodian to Roman Karian·🇹🇷 Muğla Province, Yatağan district, Turgut village, Lagina sanctuary of Hekate 8 km NE of Stratonikeia city, Turkey

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About Stratonikeia Hekate Temple — Lagina Sanctuary of Hekate

Sanctuary of Hekate at Lagina, tutelary deity of Stratonikeia and Karia, with Temple of Hekate peripteros 8×11 pseudodipteros by Hermogenes school (100 BCE, 21×28 m) famous for its frieze of Zeus–Gigantomachy and Karian rites, plus Propylon of Stratonikeia and Sacred Way 9 km linking to city. Largest temple dedicated to Hekate worldwide. Ritual of key-bearing kleidouchos priestess. Excavated.

Why it mattersOnly monumental Hekate temple with in situ frieze; shows Karian goddess promoted to poliadic under Hellenism

Open questions

Mysteries & theories

Mysteries

  1. 01Hermogenes attribution via pseudodipteral debate
  2. 02Hekate mysteries trioditis vs kourotrophos

Theories

  1. 01Karian identity under Rhodes and Rome
  2. 02Key-bearer kleidophoros priesthood as political vehicle

Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.

History

How it came to be

Built
Temple c.100 BCE; frieze 60 BCE; propylon 80 BCE
Period
Hellenistic to Roman (200 BCE – 250 CE)
Culture
Seleucid foundation to Rhodian to Roman Karian
Purpose
Hekate as Carian national goddess and key-holder
Abandoned
c.250 CE Gothic
Excavation
Partially excavated

  1. 100 BCE

    Hekate temple built (Hermogenes influence)

  2. 81 BCE

    Sulla confirms asylum

  3. 1993

    A. Tirpan excavations start

On the ground

Structures & features

37.3750° N · 28.0370° E · 220 m · 3 mapped features

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