The sanctuary of Zeus Labraundos or Zeust Stratius at Labraunda is strategically located on a peak high up in the Latmos Mountains. According to Herodotus it was a the precinct of Zeus of Armies at Labraunda 1 ,It played an important role as a refuge place for the territory of Mylasa, with which It is linked by a 7.5 m wide, paved Sacred Way. It was a major sanctuary of the Carians. The site was occupied already in archaic - mid-seventh century BC. Herodotus speaks of a large and a holy grove of plane-trees 2.
The first sanctuary was built in the fifth century BC as a small temple in antis of megaron-like shape.
Sources:
- George E. Bean, Turkey Beyond the Maeander. An Archaeological Guide, London Ernest Jersey 1971, pp. 58-68
- Ekrem Akurgal, Ancient Civilisations and Ruins of Turkey: From Prehistoric Times until the end of the Roman Empire, Turkish Historical Society Press, Ankara 1970, p. 244-245
- http://www.labraunda.org/Labraunda.org/Welcome_to_Labraunda.html
- Lars Karlsson; Olivier Henry; Jesper Blid; Ragnar Hedlund, Labraunda 2011. A preliminary report on the Swedish excavations with an appendix by R. Hedlund, Opuscula vol. 5, Uppsala University 2012 - https://www.academia.edu/2212415
References
- ↑Hdt, V.119 - ἐνθεῦτεν δὲ οἱ διαφυγόντες αὐτῶν κατειλήθησαν ἐς Λάβραυνδα ἐς Διὸς στρατίου ἱρόν
- ↑Herodotus, The Histories V,119 - http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0126:book=5:chapter=119&highlight=labraunda