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Modern Description: The Hellenistic Sanctuary of Erethimian Apollo is signed to the left (500m). Apollo was worshipped here as protector of agriculture, and the epithet, Erethimios, has been associated with ‘erysibe', a disease which affects plants. Little remains to be seen of the Doric temple, which was built c. 400 BC. A succession of archaeologists' sounding trenches, partially revealed a crepidoma and some sanctuary buildings (constructed not in dressed marble, but in sandstone), with Early Christian overlay. Relief marble fragments from the tenple's sima, decorated with lotus-flowers and lion-headed water spouts are displayed in the Rhodes Archaeological Museum. The ancient theatre, which was excavated at the same time as the temple, was almost totally destroyed during the last war. Two sections of building-base(s) are recognisable (one to each side of the road) on a north-east/south-west orientation. A well constructed ancient drain cuts east/west under the site. This whole, low-lying area has yielded much archaeological interest: tombs from Mycenaean and Archaic periods, and ancient architectural fragments from around the church of Aghios Ioannis in the village of Theologos.
Wikidata ID: Q107068356

Info: McGilchrist's Greek Islands

(From McGilchrist’s Greek Islands, © Nigel McGilchrist 2010, excerpted with his gracious permission. Click for the books)

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