Near the western entrance to the Southern Agora, adjacent to the majestic Capitol Baths (1st century AD), stood one of Miletus` most significant temples—the Sanctuary of Apollo Delphinios. This temple played a pivotal role in the city`s religious and public life, deeply intertwined with Miletus` maritime identity as a powerful Ionian colony.
Construction History of the Sanctuary of Apollo Delphinios
1. Archaic Period (6th century BC): The first temple was built during Miletus` golden age, when the city dominated Black Sea trade.
2. Hellenistic Reconstruction (3rd–2nd centuries BC): After destruction by the Persians (494 BC) and Alexander the Great (334 BC), the temple was rebuilt in the Ionic order.
3. Roman Modifications (1st–2nd centuries AD): Marble elements were added, including friezes carved with maritime motifs.
Architectural Features of the Sanctuary of Apollo Delphinios
• Pronaos (porch) with 4 Ionic columns.
• Cella (inner chamber) without an opisthodomos—a characteristic of Ionian temples.
• Dimensions: Approximately 20 × 35 m—smaller than the Didymaion but more elegant in proportions.
Decorations of the Sanctuary of Apollo Delphinios
• Pediments with reliefs depicting Apollo as the patron of seafaring.
• A sacrificial altar in the courtyard, aligned with the harbor.
Connection to the Capitol Baths: The temple and baths formed an architectural ensemble—ritual purification before prayer was integral to the cult.
The Cult of Apollo Delphinios in Miletus
Apollo was worshipped here in his special epithet—Delphinios (Δελφίνιος), associated with:
• Maritime power: His name was linked to dolphins, guides of ships.
• Colonization: Before sending colonists to the Black Sea (e.g., Olbia), blessings were sought here.
• Politics: The temple housed alliance treaties and decrees, much like the Delphic Oracle.
Key Rituals in the Sanctuary of Apollo Delphinios
• Theoriae: Grand processions from the Temple of Apollo in Didyma to this sanctuary.
• Delphinia: A spring festival featuring mock naval battles.
Surviving Remains of the Sanctuary of Apollo Delphinios today
• Foundation and parts of the stylobate.
• Column fragments and volute capitals (now in the Miletus Museum).
• A carved frieze depicting triremes—evidence of the maritime cult.
• Altar remnants between the temple and baths.
The Temple of Apollo Delphinios was located near the Lion Harbor. Its position by the harbor emphasized the connection between religion and trade. The cult of Apollo Delphinios united Miletus with other Greek cities of Asia Minor. The Byzantines used its stones for churches, but the memory of the cult has been preserved in local toponyms. Explore the temple together with the Capitol Baths - their symbiosis reveals the ancient concept of "purification of body and spirit."
