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Archaeologists Uncover 2,500-Year-Old 'Temple of the Winged Goddess' Nike in Ancient Pisidia with Intact Golden Diadems

📅 April 11, 2026 📰 Mediterranean Heritage Review
Archaeologists Uncover 2,500-Year-Old 'Temple of the Winged Goddess' Nike in Ancient Pisidia with Intact Golden Diadems

A joint international team of archaeologists has announced the discovery of a remarkably well-preserved Hellenistic temple dedicated to the goddess Nike in the ancient city of Cremna, located in the Pisidia region of modern-day Turkey. The structure, which dates to the late 5th century BCE, features a unique peripteral layout with hybrid Ionian-Corinthian columns. Beneath the primary altar, researchers found a sealed votive chamber containing three intact golden diadems and several silver statuettes representing the goddess in flight.

The excavation reveals that the temple served as a major site for military vows before regional campaigns. Interestingly, the architectural style shows a significant blend of local Anatolian motifs with classical Greek forms, suggesting a high level of cultural syncretism in Pisidia during the Hellenistic period. The site is currently being mapped using 3D laser scanners to create a digital reconstruction of the temple's original polychrome friezes, which depicted the triumphs of local city-states.

Original source: Mediterranean Heritage Review