Archaeologists in the ancient Carian city of Lagina have unearthed a previously unknown sanctuary dedicated to Hekate, the goddess of magic and crossroads. Unlike other structures in the region, this temple features a unique set of three-sided altars designed for simultaneous offerings to the goddess's triple form. The site was found beneath a later Byzantine structure, which helped preserve the original Hellenistic masonry.
Found within the temple were numerous votive lamps and lead curse tablets, indicating the site's role as a center for mystery cults and ritual magic. The architectural layout includes a rare subterranean 'incubation chamber' where devotees would sleep to receive prophetic dreams. This discovery is expected to rewrite the history of religious practices in southwestern Anatolia during the transition to the Roman era.