Holy Lagina becomes popular with tourists

MUĞLA – Anadolu Agency

AA photo

The holy field of Lagina (Hekate), an ancient place of worship for pagans in the western province of Muğla’s Yatağan, has been visited by 70,000 people in six months. 

Located nearly nine kilometers away from the Yatağan-Milas highway, the ancient site has been included in the tour program of an Antalya-based travel company and become popular particularly among foreign tourists. 

Tourist groups, made up of mostly German, Dutch, Swedish and Danish visitors over the age of 50, have visited the Temple of Hekate and 3,000 year-old marble columns in the religious center of the ancient city of Stratonikeia. 

Yatağan Deputy Mayor Tarcan Oğuz said tourists flocked to see the site after it was included in a tour program. 

“The holy field of Lagina is a religious center affiliated with the political center in the ancient city of Stratonikeia. This is a city established with the name of Hekate. Pagans worshipped here,” Oğuz said. 

“This is one of the largest religious centers in the world. From time to time, we organize Pagan ceremonies here as the Yatağan Municipality,” he said.