A journey into ancient tradition in Yatağan: Key-carrying ceremony reenacted in Stratonikeia

In a ceremony where students from the Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University Cultural Heritage Society wore period costumes to reenact the event, the city's key, taken from the Lagina Hekate Temple, was presented to Yatağan Mayor Mesut Günay in Stratonikeia.

The "Key Carrying" ceremony, a tradition dating back to ancient times, is performed over an area of approximately 8.5 kilometers between Lagina Hekate, considered a religious center, and Stratonikeia.

The ceremony, organized by the young girl Kleidophoros to open the gates of heaven and hell, begins with a choir of young girls singing hymns.

The ceremony concludes with students bringing the key of Hecate, which they received from the ancient city of Lagina, to Stratonikeia and presenting it to the city's administrator.

Prof. Dr. Bilal Söğüt, Head of Excavations at the Ancient Cities of Stratonikeia and Lagina, stated that the ceremony reenacted by the students dates back thousands of years and was a tradition in which people from different cities around the world participated.

Stating that they find and protect all kinds of artifacts belonging to a historical process of approximately 3,500 years in ancient cities, leaving them as a legacy for future generations, Söğüt said, "We continue all of these efforts throughout the year within the scope of the Heritage for the Future Project. A group of the works here also consists of ceremonies held in the ancient period."

Söğüt noted that ceremonies were held between the two cities 2,200 years ago, and that the key-carrying ceremony was one of the most important among them.

Yatağan Mayor Mesut Günay pointed out that the district's history is kept alive in the ancient city, stating, "Today, we relived a beautiful memory. We had the chance to show everyone how fertile, beautiful, and effective these lands are. We will do our best to promote this beautiful part of our city and our history more effectively in the future."

Dr. Aslı Çandarlı Şahin, coordinator of the MSKU Cultural Heritage Society, also stated that they are making efforts for university students coming from different cities across the country to learn about the city's history and culture.

Explaining that they organized a wide variety of events at the university throughout the year, Şahin stated that the key-carrying event was one of them.

The program was also attended by Muğla Deputy Mayor Durmuş Ali Öztürk, protocol members, high school and university students, and tourists visiting the city.