Page 28 - Sarpedon’dan Keykubad’a Bir Zamanlar Antalya

Apollo was one of the most loved gods in Lycia. The Lycians
built temples and oracle centers in his name in many cities. Al-
most all cities have a sanctuary related to him, but there are
three important oracle centers in Sura, Kynaei, and of course
the most famous one in Patara. Apollo has guided both the Ly-
cians and people from other lands here for thousands of years.
So much so that those who came to the Sura Apollon prophe-
cy center in modern Demre were given prophecies by the high
priest of the temple through looking at the motions of fish. To
announce their prophecies they gathered at the water channel
of the Apollon fountain three times a year. The person who want-
ed to learn the prophecy would come to the temple and threw
the meat they tied to the stick to the fish. If the fish ate the meat,
this would be interpreted as good for the person who made the
prophecy, and if the fish refused, it would be interpreted as a
very bad situation.

Fig.15: Sura Apollon Prophecy Center and Temple of Apollo in
Demre. Photo by O. İbci

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