Sacred areas and cults of Arycanda acropolis

The point of my dissertation, named as "sacred areas and cults of Arycanda acropolis" is to determine the structural characteristics of sacred areas in Acropolis, to make their definitions and to judge them with their cult organisations. The focal point of this dissertation is formed by the Helios Temple and Sebasteion including a sacred area and their cults. In this study, the plans and architectural features of these buildings are determined with their building phases, and the relation of both of these buildings with their cults are assessed on the basis of archeological evidence. In this study, small cultic finds which were unearthed all around the acropolis are related to Trading Agora, Bouleuterion, Prytaneion, residences and other buildings such as watchtower, so it is revealed various religious and worshipping types. In the first chapter of my dissertation which is comprised of three chapters and a catalogue, the history of Arycanda and Arycanda sacred areas with their cults are described in the light of urban development process. In the second chapter, it is intensified over the sacred areas in Acropolis, and it is also described the architectural features of Helios Sacred Area and Sebasteion with their building phases and the archeological finds which were discovered in these contexts, and they are assessed all together with their cult contents.. Furthermore, the cultic relations and the architectural features of a number of building including Trading Agora, Prytaneion, Bouleuterion, residences and the watchtower are judged briefly in this context. In the third chapter, it is treated the cults which is defined by the epigraphic, numismatic and archeological evidence and which were especially related to the sacred areas in Acropolis. In this context, firstly, Sun god Helios who is related to Helios Temple is treated in detail; secondly, it is mentioned about Apollo who is related to Helios; in this context, it is especially assessed the relationship of Helios - Apollon Syncretism. It is also dealt with briefly Asklepios and Hygieia by assuming that these gods are related to Helios and his temple. Fourthly, it is also pointed out the imperial cult that is seemingly related to Sebasteion, Hermes who is related to the Trading Agora and Artemis who is related to Egyptian gods and residences. In this study, it is revealed that Helios Temple were arranged in eustyle by the calculations of the modular system that was defined by Vitruvius, and that it has a Doric façade arranging in style of templum in antis. Furthermore, it seems that the building was built in the end of 4th century BC - the beginning of 3rd century BC, and that it was damaged in an unrepairable manner by an earthquake in 141 BC. It seems that a common Helios-Apollo worshipping were carried out from the Hellenistic period, and also another one including Helios-Asklepios and Hygieia in Roman period. After the Helios temple was damaged in an unrepairable manner, another sacred building in the style of templum in antis with peristyle courtyard and covered with cradle vault was built in the highest point of town in the end of 2nd century BC. According to the inscription, this building, called as Sebasteion, is devoted to Emperor Septimus Severus and his family. In this building the imperial worshiping was probably kept on with the imperial cult. In this study, it is pointed out that the religious practices in Arycanda didn't only limit with temples, but they have also cultic connections to Trading Agora, Bouleuterion, Prytaneion, residences and watchtower. Consequently, the structural and periodical changes, which are made firm by means of archeological finds, and different sacred areas point out that there a lot of diversity for the cultural, social, political and religious contexts of Arycanda. Keywords: Archeology, Arykanda, Sacred Areas, Temple, Sebasteion, Cult