|
|
| |
Aphrodite Temple
 The
most important building of the city Aphrodisias, with no doubt, is the Aphrodite
temple. The first construction of the temple was begun during the archaic times.
After the destruction of their cities by Meder and Babylonier, the Asyrians
coming from Ninova brought the cult of the Asyrian love and beauty goddess
Isthar into this remote region. Illustrations of the Asyrian king Ninos and his
wife, which confirms this thesis, is on one of the frescos found during the
excavations into Aphrodisias. Therefore the roots of the
Aphrodite cult also put in this Mesopotamian culture. The building right next to
the sculptor school with its huge fourteen pillars still standing straight and
facing the blue sky, is the Aphrodite temple, in which one can feel the heart
beat of the city. The temple, which was designed in the Ionic style, which is
the typical Anatolian style, it is surrounded by series of pillars all around,
|
|
|
| |
eighth on the shorter sides, and thirteen on the long sides, reaching the inner
walls in double angles of the real distance. Thus, an effect is attained as if
the temple would be surrounded with two pillar series, (pseudo dipterous style).
The
construction of this temple started
by Zoilos in the first century BC, and was completed in 130 AD. At the time of
the Emperor Hadrian, the walls of the holy area, which surrounded the building,
were added and the temple assumed its last form. One was able to reach this holy
part through a monumental enÂtrance building situated east. The cult monument of
goddess Aphrodite was situated in the area called Sella and only priests were
allowed to enter it. The Aphrodite temple was a pilgrimage place for Paganists
(people who believed in several Gods) and protected people
who were seeking refuge. According to one story, only male priests worked in the
temple.
 At
the end of the fifth century, the temple was converted into a large church once
Christianity took over. A three-stage plan was designed so that the pillars of
the short sides of the temple were lifted
and added to the long column series and the Sella was removed. Walls were built
around the church, a Nartex entrance in the west and an apse in the East. In the
apse of the church there are some steps for the church chorus. Some wall
paintings are on the supports of the half-round aps~. The representations of
Jesus and Maria between the two angels Gabriel and Mikail are in the center.
Besides this, there are at least 16 additional pictures. At the time of the
church, graves were put in her and in part of the garden. During these diggings,
important archaeological layers were destroyed.
The church was used until the 11 th Century. The bishop of Saint John Church in Ephesus,
George Tornikes, who visited Aphrodisias in 1156, described the church as
follows "Only owls sing in the church, which was deserted after the earthquake." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
