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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 entrance 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."
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