Glenn Maffia The recent 6.3 magnitude earthquake during July was a stark reminder of the power of nature’s forces. It was also a sharp indication of why humankind has always felt the need to invent supernatural deities that would protect their fragile existence in the face of such awe-inspiring forces…all to no avail, naturally. The…
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WHILE much of the focus was on the ancient findings that the German team of archaeologists discovering at Apollo Temple, they were also helping with a modern issue. Sources close to the team revealed that before leaving, they transferred, in consultation with Milas Museum, three gravestones of Greek inhabitants of old Didim to the restored…
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Glenn Maffia – THE trenches have been filled, the spades and trowels packed and the small finds logged and locked away…the archaeologists are soon returning to Germany. Unprepared with no contingency It wasn’t the most stunning of excavations this year as much old ground was trodden once more. I found that surprising until I learnt…
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WHILE observing the excavation within the schoolyard at the back of the mosque last week, I thought the archaeologists had found the clue that would have revealed the ‘new’ temple was, indeed, dedicated to Apollo’s twin sister Artemis. Eureka moment The trench was approaching a depth of 2.5 metres when another stone structure was encountered.…
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Glenn Maffia discovers a new side of the Apollo Temple’s environs As I continue my lonely and silent walk among the diligent, but unspeaking, archaeologists burrowing deep within the earth, it all rather struck me as being so familiar. For they are digging in the very same places as they were two years ago; north…
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DURING the German archaeologists’ review of the Apollon Temple for all things that lie in the past, they are also handling modern day pressures bearing on the environs. This included work on the supporting wall around the Temple which required the archaeologists to use a low loader and crane to move rocks into place to…
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Glenn Maffia reflects on the Temple of Apollo and its environs SO the excavation trenches have been sank, though to my surprise these are concentrating upon the ‘new’ temple in the vicinity of the mosque. I believed the archaeologists would be curious to determine the full extent, and purpose of the Hellenistic foundations beneath…
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Glenn Maffia REGRETTABLY, this year the archaeologists excavating around the Temple have been put under a ‘vow of silence’ on speaking to either writers or journalists; which leaves me firmly out in the cold. Though worry not, they are digging on public land, therefore I am free to wander around and use my eyes and,…
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Glenn Maffia continues his roam around the Apollo Temple environs. IT IS immensely gratifying to welcome back the archaeologists from the Martin Luther University of Halle under the direction of Prof. Helga Bumke. We certainly missed them last year and hopefully they can make up for that lamentable lost time by succeeding to astonish us…
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Glenn Maffia continues his journey of discovery around the Apollon Temple environment. EVER since first visiting Didim in 1996 it has always struck me as absurd that a Temple of such crowning magnificence could ever be imagined to be standing so poignantly alone. In the Greek and Roman world a temple sanctuary would abound with…
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