<Location> Naxos, Naxos Island, Cyclades, Greece
This doorway, symbol of the island, belonged to the temple of Apollo. It is situated on the islet of Palátia, connected to the town by a narrow causeway. It is known also as "Portala", meaning big gate in modern Greek.
As the Mediterranean is highter than in Antiquity, Palatia must have looked more like a hill than an island.
The construction of the temple started in the first half of the fifth century BC, maybe under the tyrant Lygdamis. The dedication to Apollo was presumed from the positioning of the doorway facing toward Delos, birthplace of the god.
Obviously the doorway did not keep on standing since Antiquity; it was restored in recent times. The temple was used as quarry for the construction of Kastro in Crusader era. However, as the stones used for the gate were too large and heavy, they left to lay in this place.
This is the rear part of the temple (the doorway is situated to the right).
Reference
- K.A. Katsouros and S.A. Katsourou, Naxos: Today and Yesterday, Athens/ Michalis Toumbis Editions, 1987, pp. 38-39.
- Robin Barbar, Greece (Blue Guide), London- N.Y. 2001 (Revised reprint of the 6th edition of 1995), p. 672.
