Sanctuary of Apollo of Hilates in Cyprus, Limassol resort
Rating: 7,9/10 (3043 votes)  The sanctuary was erected in honor of Apollo of Hilates, who is considered the patron saint of forests and animals, as well as the protector of the city of Kourion. This temple was built in a beautiful place and was rebuilt many times over the centuries. The first mention of the sanctuary dates back to the 7th century BC, and what we see now was built in the 1st century AD. The sanctuary of Apollo was located 2 kilometers from Kourion (now defunct). An interesting fact is that at the place where there were garbage ditches of the sanctuary, archaeologists found ash. Her analysis showed that the main sacrifice was lambs. Believers donated to the priests small clay figures of people and animals, which were later thrown into the ditch, as there was no room for them in the temple. The Sanctuary of Apollo has two entrances: from the Paphos side there is the western gate, and from the Kourion side - the eastern one. In front of the small temple there is a series of steps that lead to the place where the altar used to be. Only the priest could touch the altar. Ordinary people were forbidden even to approach the altar, and those who dared to do so were thrown off a cliff into the sea.   
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