The temple of Apollo Isotimos was built by a Menesthes. He was a pupil of the famous architect Hermogenes from Alabanda (or Priene), who built the temple of Artemis in Magnesia (ad Maeandrum), his masterpiece. The ground plan is similar to that of the temple of Hekate in Lagina.

Apollo is in Greek and Roman mythology the god of light, healing, spring, moral purity and moderation, as well as prophecy and the arts, especially music, poetry and singing; he was also the god of healing and the god of archery. Born in Didyma, the son of Zeus, the father of the gods, and Leto, the goddess (Latin: Latona), like his first-born twin sister Artemis (Latin: Diana), he belonged to the Olympic gods, the twelve main gods of the Greek pantheon. The sanctuary in Delphi, the most important oracle site of antiquity, was consecrated to him.