Claros

Klaros (Greek Κλάρος, Latin Clarus ) was in ancient times an important Orakelort of Apollo on the west coast of Asia Minor (now about 16 km west of Selçuk in Turkey).

It was one of about 13 km distant city of Colophon, although it was much closer to the city Notion. The oldest evidence of Klaros date from the 7th century BC, but probably the oracle is much older than the Greek colonization. A sacred cave suggests that here the small Asiatic goddess Cybele was worshiped Apollo. Until the Roman period Klaros enjoyed a reputation of Delphi and Didyma was comparable. Klaros was largely destroyed by an earthquake.

According to an ancient legend, the seer Calchas had prophesied that he would die if he meet a seer who is superior to him. In Klaros he met the seer Mopsos, and Calchas asked him to name the number of fruits on a fig tree. When the answer was Mopsos, was confirmed to the last fig, Calchas died. Mopsos is also regarded as the legendary founder of Claros.

Alexander the Great visited the oracle of Claros to let interpret a dream in which he founds a town on Mount Pagos. The oracle told the dream as a call to the city of Smyrna to rebuild.

By the archaeologist Carl Schuchardt Klaros was rediscovered in the late 19th century. The systematic archaeological development began in the early 20th century by Theodor Macridy and Charles Picard. 1951-1960 dug here Louis Robert and Roland Martin. 1988-1997 found another French excavations are under the direction of Juliette de La embarrassed.

Particularly worth seeing Klaros is because of the extensive fragments of the larger than life Hellenistic cult statues here - were placed in their original positions again - unlike most archaeological sites. The visitor can thus make a faithful picture of the ancient sanctuary. Also interesting is the center of the oracle temple, which still exists to a large extent in the original. The wedge stone arches are still clearly visible.