The cult and worship of Ares in the territory of phaselis

This study evaluates the cult sites of Ares on the northern border of the Phaselis territory and the worship of Ares in the region based on the epigraphical documents and archaeological artifacts found in these sites. In order to understand the cult and practices of the god Ares, who was worshipped by the local people living in the surroundings of Tahtalı Dağ, the data collected as a result of the surveys carried out in the Sanctuary of Ares at Ekizce for five years are analyzed as a whole within the scope of the doctoral thesis presented here. As a result of these studies conducted between 2017-2021, more than 100 votive stelae and archaeological materials in various categories were identified in the Sanctuary of Ares at Ekizce. In the light of these data, an archaeological repertoire has been obtained that can provide multifaceted perspectives and interpretations on the cult and worship of Ares in the territory of Phaselis between the third century BC and the fourth century AD. Digital epigraphy studies were also carried out in the study since most of the votive stelae documented in the area could not be transcribed due to their poor state of preservation. It is aimed to reveal the cult practices of the local people who worshipped Ares, and accordingly, it is aimed to reach socio-cultural data such as the identity, religious beliefs and worship patterns of the people living in the mountainous regions of Phaselis.