Ruins of the city of Aphrodisias in Turkey, Aegean coast resort
Rating: 7,5/10 (160 votes)  Aphrodisias is the ancient city of ancient Caria. The city is one of the most beautiful and isolated archaeological sites in Turkey. On a high plateau surrounded by mountains, from which flow down citrus orchards, poplar groves and dozens of rivers, there are the remains of one of the earliest settlement sites and the most important cultural center of the Roman province of Asia. The earliest local archaeological finds date back to the middle of the Neolithic era – at this time, the locals worshiped the goddess Ishtar (Nin) and showed great attraction to large forms. This is also evidenced by the artificial hill on which a Roman temple was built in the 15th century BC. Despite its advantageous strategic position at the crossroads of trade routes to Phrygia and Lydia, the city for many centuries remained only a religious center. In the 2nd century BC, the important role of local residents, played in suppressing the uprising of Mithridates and the cult of Aphrodite, led to the fact that Aphrodisia received official privileges and the status of the city, after which it quickly turned into a religious center, which was under the patronage of almost all Roman emperors. Special sculptural and architectural schools were formed here – almost the entire Roman empire was decorated with works of local craftsmen. For two centuries, even after Theodosia's ban on the `` old religions '' locals continued to confess the cult of the goddess of love. In the 13th century, due to the frequent raids of the Seljuks and devastating earthquakes, the city was completely abandoned, which allowed it to survive well to our time. The first archaeological excavations here began only in the 20th century. The most interesting elements of Aphrodisia were discovered in 1961 by Dr. Kenan Erima and his team. In 1990, after the death of the doctor, the excavations were suspended, putting an end to new discoveries. The main monuments of the city today are tetrastona, the council building, the stadium, the columns of the temple of Aphrodite, the ancient theater, the thermal complex, the porticoes of Sebasteion and Tiberius, the baths Hadrian, double agora, tetrapilona, etc. Not far from Hadrian's baths are the Bishop's Palace and the School of Philosophy. We also recommend reading Ruins of the city of Assos in Turkey, Aegean coast resort Topic: Ruins of the city of Aphrodisias in Turkey, Aegean coast resort. |
