By Glenn Maffia A rather curious snippet of information came to my attention of a rumour circulating that the three standing columns at the Temple of Apollo are recent reconstructions. I found that quite laughable. Though then realised these ill-informed pieces of nonsense could impair people’s judgement of this magnificent site. So I decided to…
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By Glenn Maffia On a recent visit to the Temple I noticed a modicum of maintenance work being conducted within the Chresmographion (the higher section of the three levels), but could not discern any German Archaeological Institute (GAI) personnel, merely local labourers. Sparse on the ground That is not to say the archaeologists are entirely…
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By Glenn Maffia And so it begins. When friends from many a foreign shore start to descend into this timeless ancient Ionian landscape. Full with wonderment and, contrary to the sun-seeking hordes, a thirst for what remains of our shared historic past. Though we have been known to quench the dusty dryness with a cold…
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My previous two articles have afforded me to focus on the relatively minor, inexpensive tweaks to the appearance around the Temple of Apollo to enable visitors to better appreciate the elegant antique architecture that stands as a symbol to this growing resort. Namely; clean the graffiti, smarten the surrounding abodes and secure the perimeter walls,…
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My trustworthy observers were once again active last week within the vicinity of the Temple of Apollo. They reported that though the Sacred Road continues to be securely locked and bolted along its closest juncture to the temple, a surprising touch of good fortune revealed itself when driving from Mavişehir into the centre of Didyma…
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An ever-vigilant friend messaged me last week to say that after meeting with some people close to the Temple of Apollo she decided to walk home taking a route around the back of the Temple’s outer perimeter wall, writes Glenn Maffia. What she observed appalled her; sections of the fencing which top the walls had…
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The scaffolding has been removed, placed upon pallets and crane-lifted away. We now have our iconic columns stretching to the iridescent blue sky returned to us, unadorned by a displeasing brace of metal, writes Glenn Maffia. Though the maintenance was undoubtedly required and was conducted with a high level of professionalism it was, by comparison…
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Precisely at the midway point of the maintenance objective, I visited the Apollon site on Saturday (Sept 11) to observe proceedings, writes Glenn Maffia. Only to find a complete absence of any archaeologists in situ! Not a faint echo Needless to say, I was somewhat perplexed. Not even a sign of the stone grinder under…
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Another week another jaunt to the Temple to observe how the archaeologists are progressing with the much-required maintenance of Didyma’s inspiring columns, writes Glenn Maffia. Indignity of the new We are now fast approaching the halfway stage along the two-month timescale set by the Director of Excavations and the action appears to have increased exponentially…
Read More There was an explosion of activity that caught me entirely by surprise around the Temple last week. A pleasurable shock, but a shock nonetheless, writes Glenn Maffia. I was alerted by Voices that the team from the German Archaeological Institute (GAI) were back in town and had begun to erect scaffolding up to the summit…
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