A temple dedicated to Demeter is being unearthed in the ancient city of Aigai in Manisa.

Excavations at the ancient city, located in the Yuntdağı region of the Yunusemre district and one of the 12 cities founded by the Aiolian people in Western Anatolia, are continuing under the direction of Prof. Dr. Yusuf Sezgin, Head of the Archaeology Department of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Manisa Celal Bayar University.

In addition to numerous findings that shed light on the history of the period, the ancient city also hosts three temples belonging to the pagan belief system that have been identified so far.

In the ancient city where the temples of Athena and Apollo were unearthed in previous years, excavations are continuing this season on the temple and its surroundings, thought to be dedicated to Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and fertility in the ancient Greek world.

During the work carried out in the region, the excavation team found many miniature hydria (water containers) dedicated to the goddess in a structure consisting of two rooms in an area of ​​​​approximately 50 square meters.

Excavation Director Prof. Dr. Yusuf Sezgin told an Anadolu Agency (AA) correspondent that they conducted research this year at a mysterious temple located at a previously unexcavated spot in a special area for the ancient city, approximately 30 meters west of the theater, on the edge of the cliffs and at the foot of the city wall.

Sezgin stated that the structure, which dates back to the Hellenistic Period and consists of two small rooms, was dedicated to the goddess Demeter, according to an inscription found by German researchers who came to Aigai in 1886, and reminded that Demeter was the symbol of abundance and fertility in ancient times.

Sezgin stated that the community living in barren lands like Aigai attaches special importance to Demeter because agricultural land is limited, and noted:

That's why a temple dedicated to her was built here. The temple was damaged by intense illegal excavations in the 1960s, and among the numerous artifacts recovered from the structure, which was destroyed by treasure hunters, we found votive offerings offered to the goddess. Among these, miniature hydrias (water vessels) are particularly noteworthy. Miniature examples of water-carrying vessels are dedicated to the goddess. Water represents abundance and fertility here and is very valuable because it is a crucial need for agriculture. Therefore, water is poured into small miniature vessels, most likely from natural sources, and left here as gifts or offerings.

Prof. Dr. Sezgin stated that they have identified approximately a thousand miniature hydria so far, adding that these findings reveal the importance the people of Aigai showed to Demeter.