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History
The first settlers arrived in Aphrodisias
first during the Neolithic times, 8000 years ago. These settlements lasted
throughout the
chalk-bronze-copper and iron times.
In actuality, the hill on which the antique
theater rests is a collection of those times. The Pekmez Hill, just West of
here, was situated in the city where one of the later civilizations has started,
and also presented one of the prehistoric settlements.
According the Byzantine historian Stephanus,
Aphrodisias was first called Lelgonopolis, then Mega polis, and then named after
the Asyrian King Ninos, when it finally tock the name Ninoi. It was during these
times when the Goddess of Love came to Aphrodisias. After the Mederian and
Babylonians had destroyed the Asyrians' cities, they brought the cult of the
Mesopotamian Goddess of Love Isthar to this region.Although this theory used to
be a saga, it has become a proven thesis since the findings of the remains of
Aphrodisians. |
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Within a large basilica,
dear iIIustrations of the popular wife of King Ninos were found.
The first documents found about Aphrodisias
can be found in the book of Aphrodisian Apollonius, in which he wrote about
Karien 300 BC. 200 AD Aphrodisias forrned an agreement with a neighboring city
Plarasa (Bingee Köyü), in which they printed coins together.
Although the founding shows, that there had
been settlements before those times, we can say that Aphrodisias as a city first
appeared 100 BC. Then, 82 BC, the roman General Sulla sent a golden crown as
well as an axe to the Aphrodite temple as a present This fa demonstrates that
during the Roman Empire, Anatolia had gained a very important role.
Further findings of writings out of these
times teli us about two Aphrodisians, who had been rewarded by so many other
cities, because they went to Rome to protest against the oppressing of Asians
(in the old times, Anatolia was also called Asia) by the Roman tax officials.
39-35 BC, Marcus Antonius accepted Aphrodisias and Plarasa to be free of tax for
the Roman Empire. 30 BC, Aphrodisias becan.J a rich and famous city with the
beginning of the Roman Empire.
During the Byzantine Empire,
Christianity was not able to completely rule this dty. Paganism, the belief on
more than one Gad, was still being practices in several areas. Then, after
Christianity was able to lake over completely, all the beautiful sculptures were
destroyed and the city was renamed "Stavropolis", which literally means Cross
City. |
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