Didim / Aydin / Turkey | Built on the promontory Tekeagac to the south of the ancient city of Miletus is the well-known Temple of Apollon. the name of the area in the Etrscan/Luwian language is originally "Didauma", meaning "the people of the Mother Goddess."  The temple which was earlier built in honour of the Mother Goddess and her son Adra, that is, God of Bulls, apparently changed after the adoption of the patriarchal system. According to the Patriarchal Zeus Gods Pantheon, Apollon is the son of Zeus and Letoon, having been identified with Adra as the god of Light, Brightness, Male Beauty and Moon. As of the 9th century the Temple of Apollon in Didyma was, after the temple in Delphi, considered as the second greatest oracle center in the world and the priests here held privileges over those of the kings. Indeed, treasures were donated to the temple held sacred by the Lydians, persians and Romans and other Anatolian tribes, and the words of the priests of the temple were respected as if they were divine words. In the heydays of Miletus the King\'s Way built between Miletus and the Temple of Apollon. The Temple of Apollon which received contributions in all eras for its construction and restoration could never completely be finished. Therefore, the architects had the construction plan scratched on the northern wall of the cella of the temple in order to be transferred to the next generations. To the north of the temple which was several times despoiled, set on fire and damaged by earthquakes, a single-apse orthodox basilica was erected during the Byzantine era and the Turkomans who came to the area early 12th centurt A.D. converted this church into a mosque.
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