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Labranda 125 pictures 6.10 minutes HQ video Labranda, the shrine of Zeus Labrayndos, was a solitary mountain sanctuary in ancient Caria, situated 14 km northeast of the city of Mylasa (Milas), to which it belonged. The earliest finds date from 600 B.C. In the 6^th and 5^th centuries the sanctuary was confined to one single small artificial terrace, the eastern part of the later temple terrace. In 497 there was a battle at the sanctuary, in which the Carian army and their allies from Miletus were defeated by the Persians. The 4^th century B.C. was the most important period for the shrine. Under the satraps Maussollos (377-352 B.C.) and Idrieus (351-344 B.C.) the sanctuary was completely reshaped. In 355 B.C. Maussollos narrowly escaped assassination during the annual sacrifice at Labranda. Possibly his lucky escape was the reason for the launching of a large building project with a series of artificial terraces, one or two propylons, a small Doric buildings, a monumental staircase, two large banqueting halls (Andrones), a portico building, a stoa, and a peripteral temple to Zeus. With the death of Idrieus in 344 B.C. the project and the building activity came to an end. The end of the sanctuary as a place for ancient cult seems to have come by the late 4^th century A.D., maybe as a result of a disastrous fire. Andron A Androns A and B were megaron-type palaces reserved for the royal family. It is the best preserved building in the site. The south wall is 7.9 meters high from the ground. Its plan is similar to the Andron of Mausolus. Within the cella, traces are visible of low, plastered stone seats which were used during the sacred feasts. Sanctuary Stairs A 12 meters wide staircase leads up towards the middle terrace, where a large banqueting hall, the Andron of Maussollos (Andron B) is situated. Stoa Southern Propylaea Temple of Zeus The temple of Zeus on the uppermost terrace is oriented towards the East. This peripteral temple was dedicated by Idrieus. Its first phase is dated to the 4^th century B.C. In the second phase, a row of columns, 6 in front and 8 on the sides, as well as a second building behind the cella were added to align with the dimensions of the cella. The colonnaded temple was sanctified by Idrieus. Its details and general appearance resemble the temple of Athena in Priene, which indicates that both were built by the architect Pytheos. Back to Turkey Index