Restoration of Türkiye’s 3,000-Year-Old Temple of Hecate Underway in Mugla
Mugla, The Gulf Observer: Restoration efforts are currently underway at the 3,000-year-old Temple of Hecate, a prominent ancient religious site located in the southwestern Turkish province of Mugla. The temple, a significant remnant of the ancient Caria region, holds historical and cultural importance as a center of ancient pagan beliefs.
Professor Bilal Sogut, head of the Lagina Excavation Team, noted that the team is conducting year-round excavation, restoration, and documentation activities. The Temple of Hecate, located in Lagina, one of the two major religious centers of the ancient city of Stratonikeia, stands out as the largest known sacred area dedicated to the ancient goddess Hecate.
Hecate, an ancient pagan goddess associated with witchcraft, magic, and the moon, was worshipped at this temple, which is encircled by columns. Archaeologists are currently focused on re-erecting the upper structure of the columns surrounding the temple’s naos, the most sacred area within the temple.
Professor Sogut explained that the restoration work involves temporary anastylosis, a technique that reconstructs the temple’s upper structure using original blocks discovered during excavations without introducing new materials. Blocks from the temple, which date back over 2,100 years, are being carefully repositioned in their original locations.
As the restoration continues, efforts are concentrated on reassembling the naos and the peristasis—the outer colonnade—to preserve this ancient cultural treasure for future generations.
Lagina is situated in Caria, an ancient region in southwestern Anatolia, modern-day Türkiye, along the Aegean coast. Known for its unique blend of Greek, Anatolian, and Persian influences, Caria was home to important cities such as Halicarnassus (modern-day Bodrum), Mylasa (Milas), and Alinda, further underscoring the region’s rich cultural and historical significance.
