Recent excavations at the Sanctuary of Hecate in Lagina, located in the Muğla Province of Turkey, have brought to light the ancient city gate and several market shops, offering new insights into both the religious and commercial life of the ancient city.
Professor Bilal Sogut, head of the archaeological missions at Stratonicea and Lagina, shared details about these significant discoveries.
Shot of the Sanctuary of Hekate at Lagina, May 12, 2025.
Photo: AA
“We’ve begun uncovering the shops along the stoa. The structures behind them are also gradually emerging,” he noted.
“Architectural elements are becoming visible, and we’ve even found roof tiles still in their original positions.”
The Sanctuary of Hecate at Lagina is one of the most important religious sites dedicated to the ancient goddess Hecate. It served as one of two major sanctuaries of the ancient Carian city of Stratonicea, located approximately 8.5 kilometers away.
Excavations at the site began 134 years ago, led by Osman Hamdi Bey—an Ottoman archaeologist, painter, and founder of the first archaeological museum in the Ottoman Empire. His pioneering work marked the first excavation in the region conducted under Turkish leadership.
Today, under the direction of Professor Dr. Bilal Sogut, the archaeological team is focusing on revealing the city’s entrance and adjacent commercial structures as part of the “Heritage for the Future” initiative.
“We’re working in areas dating back to the Hellenistic and Roman periods, and we’ve uncovered finds that are more than 2,400 years old,” Sogut explained.
View of the Sanctuary of Hekate at Lagina, May 12, 2025.
Photo: AA
These discoveries not only deepen our understanding of ancient urban planning but also illuminate the enduring connection between religious devotion and everyday life in the ancient world. As excavation continues, Lagina promises to reveal even more secrets from a past where the sacred and the civic existed side by side.
