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Dodona
39.5464° N, 20.7878° E
About
Dodona (; Doric Greek: Δωδώνα, romanized: Dōdṓnā, Ionic and Attic Greek: Δωδώνη, Dōdṓnē) in Epirus in northwestern Greece was the oldest Hellenic oracle, possibly dating to the 2nd millennium BCE according to Herodotus. The earliest accounts in Homer describe Dodona as an oracle of Zeus. Situated in a remote region away from the main Greek poleis, it was considered second only to the Oracle of Delphi in prestige. Aristotle considered the region around Dodona to have been part of Hellas and the region where the Hellenes originated. The oracle was first under the control of the Thesprotians before it passed into the hands of the Molossians. It remained an important religious sanctuary until the rise of Christianity during the Late Roman era.
Historical Timeline
Journey through time and discover key events in this site's history
Possible Bronze Age origins
2nd millennium BCE
Cist tomb and sherd
c. 1200 BCE
Archaic period contacts
8th century BCE
Homeric reference
c. 750 BCE
Philip V reconstruction
late 3rd century BCE
Pyrrhus' rebuilding
c. 290 BCE
Aetolian sack
219 BCE
Roman destruction of Molossian cities
167 BCE
Sack instigated by Mithridates' allies
c. 88 BCE
Oracular tablets
mid-6th to early 2nd centuries BCE
Mycenaean votive objects
14th–13th centuries BCE
Pausanias' observation
2nd century CE
Naia festival organized
241 CE
Emperor Julian consulted the oracle
362 CE
Closure under Theodosius
391–392 CE
Bishop of Dodona at Council of Ephesus
431 CE
Earliest inscriptions
c. 550–500 BCE
Archaeological Features
Unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site
Defensive Structures
Public and Civic Structures
Burial and Funerary Structures
Religious and Ritual Structures
Artistic and Decorative Features
Environmental and Natural Features
Frequently Asked Questions
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