Sanctuary of Apollo Maloeis in Mytilene

The sanctuary of Apollo Maloeis was one of the most important sanctuaries of the ancient city of Mytilene, but also of the island of Lesbos in general. It is located in the present-day area of Epano Skala in Mytilene, at the junction of Loggos and Lorentzos Mavilis Streets, south of the northern (former commercial) harbour of the city and its ancient market.

References to the sanctuary of Apollo Maloeis are frequent in written sources: Thucydides (Historiae 3.3.3-5), in the context of his account of the events of the Peloponnesian War and the apostasy of the people of Mytilene, informs us that the sanctuary of the god was located outside the city, which in Archaic and early Classical times had the form of a small island. Aristotle (On Signs: The Situations and Names of Winds 973, a.9-11, b.2) refers to the northern commercial harbour of Mytilene with the epithet ‘Maloeis‘, apparently from the corresponding nickname of the god and his homonymous sanctuary in the same area.

The etymology of the adjective ‘Maloeis‘ is unknown to us. Some scholars believe that it is related to cults of the god from mainland Greece, however, there is no unanimity in research on the issue.

The site was recognised for the first time after the discovery of the first finds in the area by the 10th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, in the context of the excavation and technical works carried out in 1986 and 1987 for the foundation of a building. The rescue excavations continued in 1993 and more systematically between 2010-2015, as part of the Project: “Unification of the Archaeological Sites of Mytilene” (NSRF 2007-2013), aiming to showcase the sanctuary and other archaeological sites.

From the excavation research over the years, in aggregate, architectural remains and a wealth of portable finds came to light, which date from the 10th c. BC to the late Roman times, indicating the particularly long period of use of the site, as well as its importance.

More specifically, part of the foundation of a monumental building with a crepidoma and dimensions of the Hellenistic era, constructed of local dark reddish volcanic stone in accordance to the isodomic system (five  courses/layers survive), the maximum dimensions of which amount to 12.50 m. in length and 5.70 m. in width. The orientation of the cult building seems to be on the N-S axis, with its entrance to the north, an element that further strengthens its association with Apollo, as it is often found in temples of the god in mainland Greece, the most characteristic example being that of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae in Figaleia.

In the adjacent area to the north, earlier remains of the lower part of a curvilinear building were found constructed on the natural rock and further north, almost transversely associated, the possible remains of a second building or a wall, in the form of an enclosure, constructed in both cases with rubble masonry. The first (southernmost) of the curvilinear buildings is oriented NW-SE, with its archway once to the SE. The second (northernmost) or wall/enclosure is on the E-W axis and is constructed with larger sized rough stones. Both structures date back to the Geometric times (9th – 8th c. BC).

At the junction of the enclosure and the southern curvilinear building, cavities/depressions and built cases containing vessels were found at the natural rock: an early Geometric amphora of the 10th – 9th c. BC, with the characteristic decoration of the period (superimposed concentric semicircles and horizontal black broad and narrow stripes, in the form of bands, on the body and neck), three typical vessels of Aeolian Grey Ware pottery of the Archaic period and five other fragmentarily preserved vessels of the same period.

Between the foundation of the temple and the ellipsoidal building (but also above the latter), a deposit was found consisting of successive layers of sand, gravel, shells, burnt animal bones and other portable finds (oil lamps, loom weights, figurines of various types and coins) of Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic and Roman times, while an attempt to reclaim the wider area seems to have taken place in the 2nd c. AD. Among them, sherds of Attic black-figure vessels and fragments of red-figure vessels of the 5th and 4th c. BC stand out, as well as fragments of terra sigilata vessels of the Imperial period.

Further north of the arched building, a vent was found within a stone-built enclosure, with findings of late Hellenistic and Roman times, such as one-handled and two-handled intact cups, parts of jugs, amphorae, buckets, basins, an olpe, sherds of utilitarian vessels of various types, fragments of glass vessels, parts of Hellenistic and Roman figurines, two coins, small parts of architectural elements and animal bones, some of which were burnt.

From the combination of written sources and archaeological data, it appears that the sanctuary of Apollo Maloeis was among the most important sanctuaries of ancient Mytilene, with a period of use of at least 12 centuries. It was located in the heart of Hellenistic Mytilene, in a predominantly commercial zone, as it seems to have occupied the southern boundary of the ancient market. During Archaic times, and much later during the Ottoman period, the wider area of Epano Skala was extensively used as a cemetery. After the liberation of Lesbos and the Asia Minor Catastrophe, the first Asia Minor refugee settlement and its homonymous market were founded in the same area.

The architectural remains of the confirmed curvilinear building, which in combination with the portable findings in the adjacent area, testify to the ancient worship of Apollo Maloeis as early as the 10th c., as well as the largest part of the foundation of the Hellenistic temple of the god, are unfortunately not visible nowadays. However, following the excavation work carried out in the period between 2010 and 2015, in the framework of the Project of the Unification of the archaeological sites of Mytilene (NSRF 2007-2013), visitors are currently able to see a part of the foundation of the Hellenistic cult building of the god, once of monumental dimensions, but also to tour the wider unified archaeological area and the most representative monuments of the ancient city of Mytilene.

Location

Municipality: Mytilene

Municipal Section: Mytilene

Location: Intersection of Loggos and Lorentzos Mavilis Streets in the Agios Evdokimos Park area, close to the city's Northern Harbour

Images

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