Listed 6 sub titles with search on: Information about the place for wider area of: "KLAROS Ancient sanctuary TURKEY" .
Clarus (Klaros: Eth. Klarios), a place in Ionia, near Colophon, where
there was a temple of Apollo, and an oracle of high antiquity. (Paus. vii. 3.
§ 1.) Claros is mentioned in the so-called Homeric hymns (i. 40, viii. 5), and
by the Latin poets. (Ovid. Met. i. 515; Virg. Aen. iii. 359.) There was an old
story that Calchas, on his return from Troy, came to Clarus, and died of vexation
on finding that Mopsus, the grandson of Tiresias, was a better seer than himself.
(Strab. p. 642.) When Germanicus was on his way to the East, he consulted the
Clarian oracle, which foretold his speedy death. The priest was selected from
certain families, and generally brought from Miletus. It was only necessary to
tell him the number and names of those who consulted the oracle, on which he went
into a cave, drank of the water of the secret fountain, and then delivered in
verse an answer to what each had in his thoughts: his answers, as usual with oracles,
were ambiguous. (Tac. Ann. ii. 54; Plin. ii. 103.)
Chandler (Asia Minor, c. 31) supposes that he discovered the site
of Clarus at a place called Zille, where he found a spring of water, with marble
steps that led down to it; and he considers that this is the sacred fountain.
Aiasaluck, the site of Ephesus, may be seen from this spot, with the plain of
Ephesus and the town of Scala Nova. He saw also a confused mass of ruins of a
large temple, and remains mains of Christian churches. Pausanias, who wrote in
the second century of the Christian aera, speaks of an unfinished temple of Apollo
at Clarus. The French editors of Chandler suggest that the ruins at Zille may
be those of Notium. On the coins of Clarus from the time of Domitian to Gallienus,
there is Apollo Clarius and Diana Claria.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited September 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
A small town on the Ionian coast, near Colophon, with a celebrated temple and oracle of Apollo, surnamed Clarius.
Total results on 25/4/2001: 22 for Claros, 49 for Clarus, 4 for Klaros.
The oracle and Sanctuary of Apollo Clarios was situated in Ionia,
near the coast between Smyrna and Ephesos, in the prefecture of Izmir. No city
is known and no coins. The sanctuary belonged to Colophon with its joint centers,
which varied in importance in different periods: Old Colophon (near the village
of Degirmendere), about 15 km to the N, and New Colophon, or Colophon by the Sea
or Notium, which was an acropolis port at the outlet of the valley 2 km S. All
the political and religious officials of the sanctuary held office in the city
of Colophon and were Colophonians; there were no Clarians.
Claros was famed for its oracle, to which many literary texts bear
witness (generally not in detail). The most informative of these are the Homeric
Hymn to Apollo, Tacitus' account of Germanicus consultation in A.D. 18 (Tac. Ann.),
and lamblichos' Treatise on the Mysteries (De Mysteriis). Its most flourishing
period, according to the newest discoveries, was in the 2d and even the 3d c.
A.D. Oracles, preserved chiefly by Christian writers, show that in this period
the sanctuary officials came under certain philosophical influences and the oracle
gave forth theological oracles of syncretist doctrine.
The site had been located, very approximately, in the coastal plain
S of the village of Giavurkoy (now Ahmetbeyli) following scattered finds of inscriptions
towards the end of the 19th c. At the beginning of the 20th c. some columns and
inscriptions were found which determined the exact location of what were later
identified as the propylaea of the sanctuary. This latter monument was excavated
almost in its entirety before the temple was discovered and exhumed. The monuments
are, on the average, 4 m below the tobacco-growing plain; their bases are slightly
below the phreatic water level. To the S, facing seaward, is the triple-doored
propylaea or tripylon; its walls and columns are largely covered with inscriptions
from the Imperial period. From there to the temple extend a series of bases honoring
Roman governors of the 1st c. B.C. There was also a large sacred grove.
The temple is Doric, with five steps. In facade it measures 26 m with
6 columns, and 45.49 m deep with 11 columns. About 150 column drums have been
found along with whole columns and their capitals, overturned in an earthquake
after the temple had been abandoned. The present monument was probably built toward
the beginning of the Hellenistic period. Around the beginning of the Imperial
period changes were made to accommodate in the cella a group of three colossal
statues--Apollo seated between standing figures of Artemis and Leto. On the architrave
is Hadrian's dedication of the monument, which he had finished. The altar, 27.5
m from the temple is 18.45 m wide with four steps; it was consecrated to Apollo
and Dionysos. North of the temple-oracle is a small, badly damaged temple consecrated
to Artemis Claria (her effigy appears on coins of the Imperial period); in front
of it is an altar near which was found a Kore dedicated to Artemis by Timonax,
the temple's first priest.
The special interest of the temple lies in the fine preservation of
the whole oracular section below the temple. This section has two narrow staircases
and passageways with seven changes of direction. A room, roofed at first then
later vaulted, designed like a grotto, contained a marble omphalos, which has
been recovered. A low postern gate leads to a second room where probably only
the thespiod could enter; in this room was the well from which he drank the prophetic
water. In front of the postern was a seat for the priest (probably the prophetes)
whose task it was to note down the answers. The oracles took place on certain
days, always at night. The majority of the inscriptions consist of lists of delegations
in the Imperial period (2d and 3d c.)--the chronology can be established fairly
readily--which came, especially from the interior of Asia Minor and the W coast
of the Euxine, to consult the oracle. Certain cities sent delegations every year,
others at times of public disaster. The city's official consultant, the theopropos,
was often accompanied by a chorus of young men and girls from his city who came
to sing hymns composed by poets, also compatriots. There are indications of mysteries
and initiation in some of the texts.
L. Robert, ed.
This text is from: The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites,
Princeton University Press 1976. Cited Nov 2002 from
Perseus Project URL below, which contains 2 image(s), bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
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