Photos of the Picturesque Aphrodisias Ancient Greco Roman

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Photos of the Picturesque Ancient Greco Roman Aphrodisias Archaeological Site Ruins and Roman temple Sculpture panels, Turkey. Photos by Photographer Paul E Williams. (TIP – use the icons below the slideshow for thumbnail photos and info)

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Photos of the Ancient Greek Aphrodisias Archaeological Site Ruins

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Photos of the Greco Roman city of Aphrodisias archaeological site and the incredible Roman Temple Sculptures in its Archaeology Museum, Turkey.

Aphrodisias was named after the Ancient Greek goddess of love Aphrodite. The focal point of Aphrodisias was the temple of Aphrodite.

Aphrosiias Temple Friezes

Near Aphrodisias are rock deposits of fine white marble which in Hellenistic and Roman times was quarried and used to make fine white buildings and sculptures.

The frieze’s from the Temple Aphrodite, now in the Aphrodisias Museum, became famous for in the Ancient world for their high quality of craftsmanship.

Roman Tetrapylon of Aphrodisias

Leading from the main north-east street of Aphrodisias is a fine Roman tetrapylon built in 200AD. The tetrapylon is a type of ancient Roman monument of cubic shape, with a gate on each of the four sides, generally built on a crossroads.

Aphrodisias Endowed by a Slave

Julius Zoilus was born in Aphrodisias and became a slave of the great Julius Caesar. After Julius Caesar was assassinated he was succeeded by Octavian who became the Emperor Augustus. Julius Zoilus helped Octavian in his succession battle with Mark Anthony and was given his freedom and was endowed with prestige and riches. So Julius Zoilus returned to Aphrodisias a powerful rich freedman and helped turn it into a prosperous and influential city.

When Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire the Temple of Aphrodite in Aphrodisias was turned into a Basilica and in 640 the city was renamed Stauroúpolis (“City of the Cross”).