Zeus Altar is a place with both historical importance and a unique view in Ayvacık district of Çanakkale, Türkiye. It is possible to reach here by walking a pathway for about 10 - 15 minutes from the entrance of Adatepe Village. Thanks to its view of the Edremit Gulf, Ayvalık Islands and Lesbos Island, this place is an extremely heartwarming place. If you want to continue your pleasure against the view and in touch with nature, be sure to visit the Altar of Zeus when you are in Çanakkale.
The Zeus Altar is a historical and legendary place overlooking the Ayvalık Islands, the Edremit Gulf and the Lesbos Islands. What makes this place legendary are the stories that have been told about it since history. It is also legendary that Zeus, the God of Gods, lived here and watched and directed the Trojan War from here.
Zeus Altar is located in Ayvacık district of Çanakkale. It is possible to reach here by walking a pathway for about 10-15 minutes from the entrance of Adatepe Village. On this short journey, you can take the rich oxygen of Mount Ida into your lungs; you can enjoy walking with the sounds of birds.
Zeus Altar is located on Adatepe Village in Ayvacık district of Çanakkale. This place is a few kilometers from Küçükkuyu Town. Since it is located right at the entrance of the village, you can leave your private car at the entrance of the village and reach here on foot. Here you can get a unique view after crossing an 800-meter forest road.
Adress: Mıhlı, Adatepe Köyü Yolu, 17980 Küçükkuyu/Ayvacık/Çanakkale
The Altar of Zeus has stories that have been passed down from language to language. In polytheistic civilizations, offerings were made to the gods on altars before great expectations and after important developments. In these polytheistic religions, Zeus was known as the god of gods and the most powerful god.
One of the legends is as follows:
'According to legend, Zeus, the god of the gods, watched and directed the great Trojan War from here, from Gargaros Hill on Mount Ida. Researchers working in the region also think that the place built on this high hill overlooking the sea and the Gulf of Edremit belonged to Zeus.'
Homer of Ionia, who lived in antiquity, states the following in his epic Iliad:
'They arrived on the backs of horses with flying bronze feet and golden manes, to Ida, mother of the beast, abundant in springs, on Gargaran was the temple and fragrant altar of Zeus. The father of the gods stopped the men, untied the horses and sat on the summit of the mountain with a dazzling swagger, with a perpetual smoke, a dark smoke, and gazed upon Troy and the ships of the Achaeans.'
The Zeus Altar is located on Dede Tepe. This area was created by processing the rock mass. This mass is reached by a staircase consisting of steps carved into the rock.
Altar niches, seating platforms and a cistern space carved out of the rock are located in the Altar of Zeus. This room-sized cistern containing water under the altar is called the Cave of Zeus.
Right next to the ancient altar is the grave of Erdem Dede, who participated in the Çanakkale Wars.