Copy Link
Add to Bookmark
Report

Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates

AniphaeS's profile picture
Published in 
Cyprus
 · 23 Nov 2019
Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates
Pin it

The Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates was one of the most important sanctuaries of ancient Cyprus, with a history going back as early as Late Bronze Age ( 2000 BC). It reached its zenith during the Roman architecturally overlayed all previous phases. During the Roman period, it was considered to be one of the three most important sanctuaries of Cyprus.

Like all the sanctuaries of Apollo, it was located outside the residential area, to the west of the ancient city of Kourion. Its ruins are located today in the north side of the main Lemesos ( Limassol) -Pafos highway, at a short distance from the ancient city.

Initially, worship at the sanctuary was associated with the male fertility god, who at first did not have a name and later acquired the name Hylates During the Hellenjstic period, this deity was identified with the god Apollo, who was later renamed Hylates. The local name of the god refers to the ancient greek word ( Hyle) = forest and was clearly a deity/ protector of nature the key characteristics of the sanctuary, even after the major alterations during the roman period, identify it with a typical Cypriot rural sanctuary.

In Cyprus th, the name fertility deity is often identified with Apollo and is as important as the female deity, identified with Aphrodite. In the ancient written sources, the god Hylates is linked with wildlife, the Forest and with wild animals, especially deer, as a deity of nature. As was the case with Aphrodite in Palaipafos, the worship of the gos was aniconic. The cult object was a simple conical stone known as a baetylus.

The Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates began to play an important role in local society during the Archaic period ( 8th/7th century BC), when it acquired its first monumental character. During this period, a precinct with two open-air altars, the focus of worship, were added to the earliest rural sanctuary. Around the altars an abundant number of votives were found, especially male but also animal figurines, such as bulls and horses. These votives, especially the bulls' figurines, are clear indications for the worship of fertility, which over time acquired a military character as well, as evidenced by the figurines of horse-riders and chariots. The first inscription which confirms the worship of Apollo at the sanctuary dates to the Classical period ( 5th century BC).

During the late Classical and the beginning of the Hellenistic period (4th/3rd century BC) the sanctuary become more impressive, which testifies to the increased interest of the Egg Ptolemies. During this period a series of buildings were added and especially the East Complex which included a portico and the so-called East Building. The first temple of Apollo was probably built during the early Hellenistic period, in the form of the single chambered templwhich today is covered by the remains of the temple of the Roman period. The identification of Hylates with Apollo is confirmed by an inscription of the 3rd century BC.

The sanctuary underwent a second extensive building phase in the early Roman period in the 1st century AD, during the reign of the emperor Augustus. The monumental prostyle temple of Apollo was erected, as well as the so-called Tholos, an open circular structure, which incorporated and earlier structure that probably enclosed a sacred grove. The new image of the sanctuary reflects its increased importance during this period. It is at this time that the central processional street leading to the temple was built and the Northwest and Southeast building were added. The sanctuary's development continued during the reign of the emperor Trajan, who was identified with Apollo Hylates, increasing in this way the interest of the Romans in the sanctuary. During this period the baths and the South Building were also erected. The sanctuary was destroyed by a powerful earthquake in the 4th century AD (around AD 370).

Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates
Pin it
Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates
Pin it
Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates
Pin it
Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates
Pin it
Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates
Pin it
next →
loading
sending ...
New to Neperos ? Sign Up for free
download Neperos from Google Play

Let's discover also

Recent Articles

Recent Comments

Neperos cookies
This website uses cookies to store your preferences and improve the service. Cookies authorization will allow me and / or my partners to process personal data such as browsing behaviour.

By pressing OK you agree to the Terms of Service and acknowledge the Privacy Policy

By pressing REJECT you will be able to continue to use Neperos (like read articles or write comments) but some important cookies will not be set. This may affect certain features and functions of the platform.
OK
REJECT