Temple or Altar
The temple is built in classical times, not in Homeric times. Usually a temple was built close to the altar to amphasize the location where the rites are performed. It must have been somewhere close to 'the leap'. There is however uncertainty about the exact location of the temple.
Wilhelm Dörpfeld excavated a place a few hundred meters away from the lighthouse. He found some big stones which could be part of the fundaments of the temple, but they are few. On the other hand, remnants of the temple itself are located near the lighthouse.
The discussion is about whether the stones where moved from Dörpfeld's fundament stones to built the lighthouse or, that the lighthouse itself has been built on the fundaments of the Apollo temple.
In 1950 the lighthouse collapsed due to an earthquack. This can explain the presence of the temple-stones around the lighthouse. The stones of the temple must have been used to built the old lighthouse. In that case the fundament stones further on are the base of an other structure. The stones could be the base of the altar.
In classical times the altar wasn't part of the temple itself.
The location of the altar must be where 'the leap' is.
Wilhelm Dörpfeld excavated a place a few hundred meters away from the lighthouse. He found some big stones which could be part of the fundaments of the temple, but they are few. On the other hand, remnants of the temple itself are located near the lighthouse.
The discussion is about whether the stones where moved from Dörpfeld's fundament stones to built the lighthouse or, that the lighthouse itself has been built on the fundaments of the Apollo temple.
In 1950 the lighthouse collapsed due to an earthquack. This can explain the presence of the temple-stones around the lighthouse. The stones of the temple must have been used to built the old lighthouse. In that case the fundament stones further on are the base of an other structure. The stones could be the base of the altar.
In classical times the altar wasn't part of the temple itself.
The location of the altar must be where 'the leap' is.
Light house
Due south
Agios NikolaosNiras
Capo Dukato
Capo Dukato
Fundament stones
The only way to find out is to climb the hill to find this fundament stones. So, we went there to see if it is indeed close to 'the leap'.