wikimedia

Ancient Dodona

Ancient Dodona

In the shadows of Mt. Tomaros lie the ruins of the oldest oracle in ancient Greece, with researchers placing its origins as far back as the Bronze Age between 2600 and 1900 BC. It was dedicated to an early deity representing the Earth Mother similar to Gaia or Rhea.

Later, the site chiefly honoured the God Zeus, a change owed to the fact that power over Dodona changed hands quite often due to tribal wars. Inscriptions and artefacts recovered from the site make it apparent that the oracle was visited and controlled exclusively by tribes in the region such as the Thesprotians and Mollosians, though it is still unclear by whom it was founded. Visitors from other regions of Greece only began coming to the site during the 7th century BC, and it quickly became considered to be a sacred source of wisdom, second in significance only to Delphi. Unlike Delphi, the oracle here interpreted the future by the rustling of the leaves of a sacred Oak Tree around which the site was built.

Throughout its history, a theatre, stadium, several temples and public buildings were erected. The infamous King Pyrrus of Epirus greatly expanded the site and made it the capital of the region. During his rule, athletic contests and musical festivals were regularly held at Dodona. Due to the instability among tribes within the area, the site was often attacked. It was partially destroyed by the Aetolian Tribe during the 3rd century BC. King Phillip V of Macedonia had it rebuilt years later. The site suffered the same fate by the hands of the Romans in 167 BC but was later rebuilt by Octavian Augustus in 31 BC. The oracle continued to be consulted until the late 4th century AD when the Christian Emperor Theodosius put an end to all pagan activities at the site.

Today visitors can see a variety of surviving monuments from various periods of time during which the site operated. The theatre and some of the temples are the most well-preserved examples. Artefacts found during excavations at Dodona are now housed in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens and the Archaeological Museum in Ioannina.

 

Share:

Attraction Information

Contact Details:

Dodoni, Greece

+30 26510 82287

efaioa@culture.gr

odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/eh351.jsp?obj_id=2365

Entrance Fees:
  • Full: €2
  • Reduced: €1
Opening Hours - Winter
1 October - 31 March
  • Monday-Sunday: 08:00-19:00
Opening Hours - Summer
1 April - 30 September
  • Monday-Sunday: 08:30–17:00

Ancient Dodona Location

More Attractions

Explore More In ioannina

Ancient Skamneli

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Aoos Reservoir

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Aoos River

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Arachthos River

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Bounas Forest

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Byzantine Museum

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Castle kitchens

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Clock Tower

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Dolo Bridge

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Fetiye Mosque

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Glinavos Estate

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Gormos Gorge

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Gormos Valley

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Greveniti Forest

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Ioannina Castle

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Kalamas Falls

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Kalouta Bridge

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Kastraki

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Kokori Bridge

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Konitsas Bridge

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Kouvaras Gorge

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Lake Pamvotida

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Lake Vouliasta

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Lake Zaravina

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Louros River

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Mount Mitsikeli

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Mount Peristeri

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Mt. Tzoumerka

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Panagia Labovou

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Potamaki Bridge

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Soufari Serai

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Soufari Serai

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Tyria

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Valia Kalda

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Vikos Gorge

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Voidomatis Gorge

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More

Zermas Bridge

Epirus / Ioannina
Find Out More