Aphrodisias Museum and Archaeological Sitevisitor guide.

THE MEETING POINT OF LOVE AND BEAUTY Dedicated to Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodisias is an ancient city whose monumental buildings are remarkably well preserved. Considered one of Türkiye's foremost archaeological sites, Aphrodisias was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2017. Brought to light through excavations by archaeologist Kenan Tevfik Erim between 1961 and 1990, Aphrodisias was renowned in the Roman era for the cult of Aphrodite and took its name from the goddess. Another distinction was the establishment of a renowned school of sculpture thanks to rich nearby marble quarries. Established in the 6th century BC atop a prehistoric settlement dating back to 5000 BC, Aphrodisias was initially a small settlement, and the first Temple of Aphrodite was built during this period. Reorganized on a grid plan in the 2nd century BC, the city evolved into a major religious center. Coming under the protection of Roman Emperor Augustus in the 1st century BC, Aphrodisias acquired significant monuments that still stand today. By the late 3rd century AD, it became one of the foremost mega cities of the Roman province of Caria. While losing its significance from the 6th century onward, it was completely abandoned in the 12th century. THE ANCIENT WORLD'S BEST-PRESERVED STADIUM IS HERE! Aphrodisias is celebrated for the ancient world's best-preserved stadium and its monumental temple gateway (Tetrapylon). The 270-meter-long stadium is surrounded by seating for 30,000 spectators. Converted into a church in 500 AD, the Temple of Aphrodite also retains its splendor. The white marble theater with a capacity of 7,000 is equally worth seeing. Among the rare museums integrated directly into an archaeological site, the Aphrodisias Museum at the entrance displays artifacts unearthed in the excavations. The museum's richest collection consists of sculptures, reliefs, and sarcophagi from the Aphrodisias School of Sculpture, which flourished from the Late Hellenistic period to the Early Byzantine era. WHILE YOU ARE HERE Although Geyre Village, evacuated during the excavation of Aphrodisias, is no longer inhabited, its remaining houses and the pottery workshops in Karacasu district are well worth visiting. Another site worth seeing nearby is Sırtlanini Cave near Karacasu. Home to bat colonies, the cave has a length of 348 meters. DOWNLOAD MUSEUM BROCHURE NEARBY MUSEUMS AYDIN ARCHAEOLOGY MUSEUM PRIENE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE DIDIM TEMPLE OF APOLLO MILETUS ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE KARACASU ETHNOGRAPHY MUSEUM ALABANDA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE