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The Sanctuary of Zeus Ammon and Dionysus

The Sanctuary of Zeus Ammon and Dionysus

The sanctuary of Zeus Ammon at Kallithea is three related deities were worshipped.

The cult of Dionysos and probably that of the Nymphs began in the late 8th century BC or earlier in a cave in the southern part of the sanctuary.

On the flat surface, in the northern part of the site, towards the end of the 5th century BC, a sanctuary of the Egyptian god Ammon Zeus was founded. Initially, towards the end of the 5th century BC, a brick altar was built, but later, in the second half of the 4th century BC, a Doric-style pavilion temple with a stone entablature was built next to the altar. The latter was replaced by another marble towards the end of the 3rd or the beginning of the 2nd century BC.

Its roof was decorated with clay, relief and colored tiles. Its design restoration is possible based on the scattered architectural members found. In the Roman years (1st – 2nd century AD) the temple was remodelled and with leftover material two tiered constructions (tribune) were built on the southern narrow side, while between them, on top of the oldest altar, another small altar was built.

As the findings show, the Roman phase of the temple lasted until the time of the successors of Constantine the Great, when it must have been permanently destroyed. Part of an early Christian bath, excavated at the northern end of the site, is possibly related to the continuation of worship in the first Christian centuries, but also later in the Middle Byzantine period.