Images in this photo gallery are from the archaeological site of Aphrodisias, located near the modern village of Geyre in the South western Turkish province of Aydin.
The ancient classical city of Aphrodisias is one of the most rewarding and evocative Greco-Roman archaeological sites in Turkey. Heavily influenced in antiquity by Greek Hellenistic culture, the city's patron deity was Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love and fertility. Famous in antiquity for its schools of sculpture...
more »Images in this photo gallery are from the archaeological site of Aphrodisias, located near the modern village of Geyre in the South western Turkish province of Aydin.
The ancient classical city of Aphrodisias is one of the most rewarding and evocative Greco-Roman archaeological sites in Turkey. Heavily influenced in antiquity by Greek Hellenistic culture, the city's patron deity was Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love and fertility. Famous in antiquity for its schools of sculpture and art, the Greek city flourished under Roman control from the 1st century BC to the 4th century AD, in which most of the city's monumental buildings were constructed.
Highlights include:
The stadium, which rivals the stadium at Delphi as the best preserved in the ancient world. Dating from the 1st century AD, the stadium is some 270 metres long (900 ft.) and it's almost complete stone marble seating held more than 30,000 spectators. It was mainly used for athletic com competitions and athlete's entered the arena via tunnels at each end of the stadium.
The theatre, originally built in 27 BC and then remodelled in the 2nd century AD. Built into a slope of a conical mound, the theatre had a seating capacity of 7000 and was used in Roman times for gladiatorial spectacles.
The Tetrapylon, a monumental gate dating from the 2nd century AD. The ceremonial gate is composed of four sets of four Corinthian columns which support elaborate detailed eastern and western pediments.
The Sebasteion complex. Dating from the 1st century AD, the marble structure consisted of a Propylon leading onto an east-west road flanked with three storey porticoes, ending at a Temple of Augustus. Over two hundred reliefs depicting Greek myths and Roman themes decorated the complex in which 80 have been found.
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