Walking through ancient cities with my books and notes in hand has given me some of the most rewarding moments of my life. Anatolia offers an extraordinary opportunity to observe the many cultural layers of history. To contemplate the Hittites, Carians, Lycians, Phrygians, Ionians, Persians, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks, and Ottomans within the same geography is to witness that history advances not in a linear fashion but through accumulation. The fact that Anatolia has been h

Introduction Lagina was one of the most important religious centers of ancient Caria. Known throughout the ancient world as the principal sanctuary of the cult of Hecate, it stands as a significant historical sacred site demonstrating how the indigenous religious traditions of Anatolia became integrated into the Hellenistic and Roman worlds. The origins of the cult of Hecate remain uncertain. Nevertheless, many scholars argue that its roots predate the Archaic Period (c. 800–