The Apollon Smintheus Sanctuary (Smintheion), located in the town of Gülpınar, Ayvacık, Çanakkale, is a project of special importance for Western Anatolian Archeology, where there are building remains from the Hellenistic and Roman periods and traces of the settlement dating to the Chalcolithic Period.During the excavations, which started in 1980 under the direction of Prof. Dr. Coşkun Özgünel, many structures such as the bath, residences and the sacred street related to the sanctuary were unearthed, as well as the temple. The excavation director of the project has been Asc. Prof. Dr. David Kaplan continues.
Apollon Smintheus Sanctuary is the second most important sanctuary of Troas after the temple of Athena in Troy. The importance of the sanctuary stems from the fact that it is the only example with a mouse symbol among the known Apollo cults in Anatolia. Etymologically, Apollon Smintheus means "Lord of Mice". Apollo Smintheus appears in the Troas region as a god who protects the farmers from mice.
The most important structure of the Apollon Smintheus Sanctuary is the Temple of Apollon Smintheus, and the temple built in Ionic style dates back to 150 BC. The most striking aspect of the Temple of Apollon Smintheus is the reliefs that take their subject from the Trojan War, which is described in Homer's Iliad. The temple, decorated with relief friezes on the Iliad, is unique in this context. The temple in question is characterized by its unique architectural style and its unique plastic works in the Hellenistic Period Western Anatolian architectural art.
During the archaeological excavations carried out in the Apollon Smintheus Sanctuary (Smintheion), the remains of a prehistoric settlement dated to 5 thousand BC were also found. The Middle Chalcolithic Period, which is one of the least known periods of Western Anatolian prehistory, also represents a period when many Aegean islands were first settled and cultural interactions and trade began to increase in Western Anatolia and the Aegean world. The Chalcolithic Smintheion settlement is important in that it represents a period that characterized the pre-Troas region of Troas.
A museum where the temple friezes are exhibited has been opened to visitors in the area where excavations are continuing. Although the restoration works of the temple continue, some of the architecture has been restored.
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