@article{article_193949, title={The Sanctuary at Zindan Mağarası in the Light of the New Archaeological Evidence}, journal={Gephyra}, volume={2}, pages={95–102}, year={2005}, author={Dedeoğlu, Jale}, abstract={<p> <b>The Sanctuary at Zindan Mağarası in the Light of the New Archaeological Evidence </b> <br /> </p> <p>The excavation at Zindan Mağarası (cave) began in 2002, under the direction of the Isparta Museum directorate. During the 2002 campaign a mosaic floor was unearthened upon which the head of the God Eurymedon is depicted. During excavations in front of the cave a wall from the second century A.D. and a wall dating from the third century A.D. were discovered. The authors suggest that the former could be a temenos wall while the latter wall could have been a platform, while the apse wall of a chapel, built from spolien was found in the same locality. These excavations supplied considerable architectural material that will help to identify the architectural character of this sanctuary. The excavations in front of the cave exposed a long period of occupation, extending from the Early Hellenistic to the Seljuk Period. In 2003 two important inscriptions were found showing that the temple in front of the cave was dedicated to Meter Theon Veginos. Nevertheless, the evidence obtained both from the excavations and the survey in the vicinity show that the cult centre in front of the cave was dedicated to at least three gods: Zeus, Cybele and Eurymedon. From the finds of coins from Sagalassos, Perge, Selge and Antiocheia from within the excavated area and the fact that this sanctuary was located by an important road connection, it can be suggested that the cult centre had local, but was also of regional importance. The monastery church built upon the hill facing the cave shows that the religious character of the site was maintained for centuries. </p>}, publisher={Nalan Eda AKYÜREK ŞAHİN}