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Again after the "Ionian Rebellion", it
was to Alexander the Great to order its restoration. On the ruins
of the VIth century BC temple, a church was built during the
Byzantine period. Though the ruins one can see today, are of
pre-Christian age.
The temple was famous all over the Greek world for its oracles so
that it even surpassed the reputation of Delphi.The reason for
which the harbor of Panamos near Didyma became very busy and was
visited by lots of commanders, ordinary and respected people, is
that they wanted to learn their future from the priests of the
temple. The oracle ceremonies were in two steps: the Pithy would
first comment the glitters on the waters of a well and then the
priests would translate these into literal and impressive words.
After the Lade War, many of the priests were to escape from the
temple or killed by Alexander the Great and the temple of Didyma
remained an unimportant temple till the Roman time.
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