Located in the rolling hills of southeastern Turkey, the lovely ruins of Aphrodisias contain what was once the preeminent temple of the goddess Aphrodite in Asia Minor. Yet long before the Greek sanctuary of Aphrodite was constructed in the 1st century BC, the site was a holy place and pilgrimage destination of importance to other cultures. Excavations conducted in the 1900’s indicate settlements since at least the 5th millennium BC. Once named Ninoe and associated with the goddess Astarte or Ishtar, the use of the name Aphrodisias began after the 3rd century B.C. The similarities of Aphrodite, the goddess of nature, beauty and love, to Artemis of Ephesus and other Anatolian mother goddesses are evident in cult statues found at the ruins. During the early years of Christianity the shrine of Aphrodite was still visited by pilgrims because of the great popularity of the goddess. Following their habit of destroying the religious sanctuaries of other cultures, Christians later demolished the temple of Aphrodite and erected a church where the temple had stood.

Photo: Gateway to the temple of Aphrodite, Aphrodisias

Aphrodisias on Sacred Sites.

Written by  Martin Gray.

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