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Modern Description: One of the eight Lelegian towns incorporated by Mausolos in Halikarnassos. It was noted especially for an oracle of Apollo and a priestly family of diviners. These Telmessian soothsayers were consulted by the Lydian kings (Hdt. 1.78.84) and are frequently mentioned. The town was situated 60 stades from Halikarnassos (Suidas s.v.) in a particularly fertile country (Cic. Div. 1.42.94). It was formerly believed to be located at the Lelegian town site on the Karadag above the village of Belen, but a more probable identification is with another Lelegian site near Gurice some 3 km W of Musgebi; both sites are at the required distance from Halikarnassos, but the latter accords much better with Cicero's description than the wild and bare hillsides of the Karadag. Apollo Telmisseus is figured on an imperial coin of Halikarnassos and is mentioned in a local inscription (Michel 459) as 'founder of the race';--;that is, of the family of diviners. After the incorporation into Halikarnassos, Telmessos seems to have survived merely as a small community centering around the Temple of Apollo. (G. E. BEAN)
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telmessos_(Caria)
Wikidata ID: Q1642438
Trismegistos Geo: 16259
DARE: 30800

Info: Princeton Encyclopedia

(Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites, from Perseus Project)

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