History Claros

1 history

1.1 materials & source
1.2 foundation
1.3 hellenistic period
1.4 roman period

history

a map of main sanctuaries in classical greece

it unknown when sanctuary founded , origins shrouded in mythology. archaeological excavations revealed structures dating 10th century bc. high point fame of sanctuary seems have been 2nd , 3rd centuries ad , had many visitors until 4th century ad.

materials & source

in late hellenistic period, cargo ship carrying marble sank on way claros off southwest coast of modern-day turkey. ship discovered in 1993, , has been under excavation since 2005. on ship, estimated fifty tons of marble columns recovered matched description of columns found @ claros, temple of apollo. isotopic , meteorological data indicate proconnesus source of marble. marble being imported proconnesus island used @ site, , special type of marble distinctive blue , white bands known proconnesian marble. marble did not complete 350 kilometer journey proconnesus island izmir province of turkey.

foundation

the founding myth of claros connects city myth of epigoni conquered thebes. 2 seers teiresias , daughter manto became captives along other thebans. epigoni sent them delphi honor apollo, teiresias died on journey. @ delphi, manto commanded apollo sail ionia remaining thebans found colony there. when arrived @ site claros founded later, seized armed cretans under rhacius, cretan settler of caria. after learning manto , why had come, rhacius married , allowed thebans found claros. heir seer mopsus.

thus origin of oracle @ clarus remembered greeks of classical period minoan-mycenean in origin. archaeological investigations lend support myth. intensely settled mycenaean sites have been identified @ ephesus south , numerous other nearby sites. miletus had historical minoan settlement, discovered in 1995/96 german school. in claros itself, deep exploratory trenches dug between altar , temple façade, revealed protogeometric pottery of 10th century bc, attesting presence hinted @ in myth.

at colophon, mycenaean-era tomb has been found, presence of mycenaean pottery uncertain.

according mythology greek seer calchas, participant in trojan war, died @ claros. challenged mopsus see had greatest skill in divination, lost , died of grief.

hellenistic period

according legend oracle @ claros advised citizens of smyrna move old smyrna new smyrna on mount pagos (modern kadifekale), refounded there alexander great. smyrnaeans decided follow on advice. old smyrna had lost importance @ time, after second foundation become 1 of prosperous cities of asia.

roman period

many monuments erected in roman period (pompey, lucullus, quintus tullius cicero); several took place above hellenistic foundations. pliny elder remarks @ colophon, in cave of clarian apollo, there pool, drinking of power acquired of uttering wonderful oracles; lives of drink of shortened . iamblichus said oracle, during ecstasy “... not in control of himself , not follow saying, or is...” germanicus famously visited oracle in 18 ad (a year before death) , said prophesied germanicus, in dark hints, oracles do, doom .